THE EXCURSION IN THE REINDEER COUNTRY--NUMEROUS HERDS--THE BATTLE
BETWEEN REINDEER AND WOLVES IN THE LAKE--REACHING THE HERDS--THE LONG
STALK FOR THE LEADER--ALEC'S SUCCESSFUL SHOT--CONSTERNATION OF THE
HERD--ABUNDANCE OF VENISON.
To see and, if possible, to hunt a herd of reindeer, both on land and in
the water, was one of the ambitions of the boys. They had frequently
heard some remarkable stories of these animals from northern hunters
whose homes were in regions where they occasionally visited in their
migrations, and so they were much pleased when Mr Ross, returning one
day from the Hudson Bay Company's Fort, informed them that a number of
the Indians from that land were there trading, and that he had obtained
the permission of the Hudson Bay Company's officials for them to return
with these Indians for some sport in that land. He also added that the
Indians themselves had stated that the herds of reindeer this year were
numerous, and that it would be a very great pleasure to take charge of
the young "palefaces," who were so highly spoken of by the red men, and
do all they could to assist them in their sports in their country.
This was glorious news, and, as the weeks were now rapidly going by, no
time was to be lost.
Alec deeply regretted the loss of his favourite gun, but Mr Ross
speedily replaced it with another; and so, well supplied, and with a
couple of Mr Ross's Indians as servants to look after the camp and be
on hand in any emergency, the journey was commenced under the happiest
auspices.
We need not repeat the description of the trip down or up the river and
across the portages. There were several nights when they slept as usual
at the camp fires on the rocks. There was a good deal of sunshine and a
few storms.
They passed through some lakes of rarest beauty, that simply fascinated
the boys, and drew from them the warmest expressions of admiration, of
which they were capable. Even Sam at some glimpses on these lovely
sheets, where the water was so transparent that at times it seemed as
though they were paddling through the air, lost his powers of speech for
a time, and then when the spell was broken he exclaimed, in almost
sorrowful tones, "That beats Killarney!" How glorious must have been
the sight when even a loyal Irish boy would make such an admission!
The Dominion of Canada has in it more fresh-water lakes than any other
country in the world. Some of them are equal, if not superior, in the
clearness and purity of their waters, in the distinctness of the
reflections cast upon their limpid surface by surrounding hill or
forest, and in the wild, weird beauty of their environments, to any of
the world's old favourite ones that have been long praised in song and
story. They are slowly being discovered and prized, for some of them
are as a poet's dream and a painter's vision.
They saw various wild animals, but as they were in charge of the trading
outfit for the Hudson Bay Company's post in that region of country they
were under obligations to push on as rapidly as possible. The only time
they did make a stop of any length was in Split Lake, where, as they
were rowing their boats along, they saw a great commotion in the water a
long way ahead of them. When they drew near to it they saw it was a
battle between a couple of splendidly antlered reindeer and four wolves.
It was evident that the wolves were being badly worsted in the fight, as
the reindeer were now the aggressors. From the Indians' idea of it, it
looked as if the wolves had either chased the deer into the lake or,
seeing them in there swimming, had plunged in after them. The deer, at
first much alarmed, had boldly struck out into the lake, and were
followed by the wolves. Of course, it was impossible to say whether the
wolves had been able to reach them and make the attack, or whether the
reindeer, when they had drawn them a long way out, had not then turned
upon them.
The reindeer has large lungs, and so swims high on the water. He is not
only able to use his antlers, but can turn while swimming and kick most
viciously. A wolf can only swim like a dog, and as his head is so low
he cannot make much of a fight. And so here the boys had the rare sight
of seeing a couple of deer chasing with great delight four of their most
dreaded foes on land.
They passed across the bows of the boat near enough for them to see
quite distinctly the deer suddenly give a spurt and then strike the
wolves with their great horns. Every effort of the wolves to attack
seemed to meet with complete failure, until at length their only
ambition seemed to be to reach the shore, and in this way two were
successful. The deer succeeded in drowning the other two.
The victory of the deer over their cruel and relentless foes gave very
much delight to the Indians as well as to Frank, Alec, and Sam, and it
was decided not to fire at the beautiful creatures, but to leave them to
enjoy their victory.
After several days more of travel and varied adventure they reached the
trading post and Burntwood River, and shortly after started off to Lake
Wollaston, as the hunters had reported the reindeer were there in great
herds. To that place they now travelled in birch canoes, and in them
the boys were much happier, than in the big boats in which, with the
company's goods, they had travelled from Norway House.
They saw traces of bears, beavers, wild cats, and other animals; but
they were after reindeer, and just now cared but little for any other
kinds of game. At a camp fire, where they were having supper, the old
Indian who had been appointed captain on account of his experience in
this kind of hunting gave the boys some instructions how to act should
they discover a large herd. He told them it would not be very difficult
to get within range of one or more of them, but they were to crawl up as
close to the herd as possible on the leeward side, and there, from their
hidden places, watch them until they saw the great one that was the
leader of the herd. They would not have any trouble to pick him out.
They would soon see how he bossed the rest, and was always at the head
when the herd moved.
What they were to do was to keep moving along with the herd, skulking
from one rock to the shelter of another, and, taking advantage of every
inequality in the ground, to get within range of the leader, "but never
let him once get sight of you." It was not so very particular about the
others, as they would not run until the leader started, unless very much
frightened. They were told to take, in addition to the gun and
ammunition, some food, a small axe in their belt, as well as their
trusty knife. They were not to be discouraged if hours passed before
they got a shot at the leader. They were to be patient and they would
succeed. The boys were amazed when the old Indian told them that
sometimes he had followed a great herd for three days before he got at
the leader. "But," he added, "it well paid me, as I shot twelve deer
ere they had a new leader."
How this could happen was a mystery to the boys until he explained to
them that when these herds come down fresh from the great barren lands
under the guidance of the leader they have such confidence in him, or
are in such fear of him, that when he is shot down the whole herd is
thrown into confusion, and they run here and there and jump about in
such a foolish manner, waiting for their leader to show them the way,
that a quick, clever Indian, hid behind a rock or standing in some dense
bushes, can keep loading and firing until he shoots from six to a dozen
of them. Then another great deer gives a snort and dashes off, and they
all follow him as the new leader. They are now so frightened that,
under his leadership, they will generally run a great many miles ere
they stop.
Early one morning, shortly after this information had been imparted by
the experienced old Indian to the boys, some scouts who had been on the
lookout came in with the information that two herds of deer were
visible. They were in different parts, and could be hunted at the same
time without any difficulty.
At once all preparations were made. As but one boy and one Indian could
go together, it was decided that Frank and Alec should make the first
attempt to show their skill in this kind of hunting. The old captain
took Alec with him, while another almost equally experienced hunter
accompanied Frank.
Sam was left boss of the camp, but he determined to do a little hunting
on his own account while the rest were off after the reindeer.
The clothing of the boys was inspected by the Indians, and everything of
a bright nature was discarded. They were all dressed in smoked leather
suits, with caps to match. This made them almost the colour of the
rocks and dried ferns, or bracken, among which they would have to do a
good deal of crawling. The deer hunters left the camp about six o'clock
in the morning, Alec and the captain going in a north-easterly
direction, and Frank and his companion about due west. The
understanding was to be back, if possible, not later than midnight.
Each Indian, however, took the precaution of strapping on his back a
grey blanket in case of delay.
The adventures of Alec and the captain we will have.
They started off in a north-easterly direction, and had to travel
several miles ere, from an eminence far away, the herd was sighted.
They were feeding as they leisurely moved along, and seemed to have no
suspicion of danger. It was in our hunters' favour that the country was
very much broken with a succession of hills and dales, rocky ridges and
ravines, clumps of spruce forests, and long stretches of marshy lands,
in which the dried ferns and bracken were very abundant. The first
thing after the discovery of the herd in the distance, was to find out
from them, the direction in which they seemed to be moving, and then to
notice the direction of the wind, as it is always best to be on the lee
side on account of the scent.
All arrangements being made, the two started off quite rapidly, as it
was possible to push on for quite a time without much precaution, owing
to the character of the country. Alec's trips to the Highlands of his
beloved Scotland, and his excursions with the experienced gillie there,
stood him in good service here. After about an hour's swift travelling
the Indian said:
"We are not far from them; stay here a few minutes while I go to that
large rock and see how they are moving, and, if I can, make out the
leader. Keep where you can see me when I come down a little from the
side of the rock, and if I stretch out my arms for a sign come on and
join me there."
Alec was not kept long in waiting, for soon after his companion had
crawled to the summit of the rock that rose up before them he speedily
drew back a little, so as to be out of sight of the deer, and, gave the
signal to advance. It did not take Alec long to join him. The Indian
informed him that the herd was a large one, and that some of the deer
were so close that they could easily be shot from the top of the rock.
Very cautiously did Alec with his companion climb to the point of
observation, and there, carelessly moving before them, was a magnificent
herd of several hundred splendid deer. As their food was abundant they
were in splendid condition and were a beautiful sight. Numbers of them
were very heavily antlered, and as Alec tried to count the numerous
points he saw many pass muster as "royals" in his beloved Highlands. It
was evident the leader was not to be distinguished from that position,
and so the keen-eyed Indian watched for a few minutes the gradually
receding herd until he was perfectly satisfied of the direction they
intended to keep, and then he indicated to Alec their probable route,
and stated that in all probability several hours would pass ere they
would get a shot.
So, carefully retreating, they began their careful march in a line
parallel with the herd, but generally from two to four hundred yards
distant, according to the cover the country afforded to screen them from
observation. Several times did the Indian leave Alec carefully hid from
observation while he, as we have once described, took advantage of some
high rock, or steep declivity, to crawl forward and observe the position
of the herd. On one of these tours of inspection the Indian observed
that before them was now a long valley, and the appearance of the
country was as though two hills were quite close together with only a
narrow passage between them. Almost as by intuition--perhaps it was the
result of long experience--the Indian reasoned, "If we can reach that
spot ahead of the herd we are almost sure to be successful. But can we
do it? is the question."
Rapidly returning to Alec, he told him what he had seen, and what he
thought might be accomplished.
"Let us try," excitedly said Alec, and off they started.
The Indian was amazed at the endurance of this Scotch lad, who so
generally kept close to him in his rapid march. When well sheltered
behind great rocky ridges or in ravines they ran without fear of being
discovered, but when it was on a barren plain, with scores of deer in
plain sight, it was a different matter. There they had to crawl
snakelike along the ground. Thus on it went, the Indian repeatedly
uttering a cheery word of encouragement to Alec, who had so won his
admiration by his pluck and endurance.
"What is that?" they both said, as they crowded as low as possible.
"Wait till I see," said the Indian, as he crawled forward to discover.
Soon he came back with the word that it was all right; only a big buck
crowded up too near the front, and the leader turned on him and they had
a battle, in which the intruder was soon conquered and driven back.
This delay stopped the herd for a time, and so Alec and his companion
were now about in a line with the front of the herd.
Only about a mile more had they to make ere they reached the desired
position, and so about half an hour before the deer arrived they were
well hidden and ready for action. They had taken the precaution to get
out, ready for use, their ammunition, so that, if they threw the herd
into confusion, they might have several shots ere the herd dashed away.
Soon the deer were so close to them that they could hear them very
distinctly. Cautiously the Indian watched them, and then, as arranged,
he signalled to Alec, who was stretched out behind a rock that had a
narrow cleft in it. This break was just large enough for a lookout, and
it would also serve as a good rest for the gun. As Alec cautiously
peeped through this narrow opening his heart gave a great thump, for
there within fifty yards of him were the most magnificent deer he had
ever seen. There was no difficulty now in picking out the leader.
So, pulling himself together, he waited until his heart stopped
thumping, and then, carefully and coolly aiming, so as to strike the
game immediately behind the fore shoulder, he fired. The deer gave one
great bound and dropped dead. Instantly there rang out another report,
as Alec's comrade fired, and another great deer fell dead. Now there
was one of those panics that occur among these reindeer when the leader
is suddenly shot down. They made no attempt to escape. They ran up to
where lay the fallen leader, and then they retreated a hundred yards or
so. Some ran one way and some another, and then veered around and
returned again.
In the meantime Alec and the Indian were carefully loading and firing,
until perhaps between them a dozen deer had been killed. Then the
Indian gave the signal to stop firing; but they continued to watch them
for several minutes more while panic-stricken and bewildered they
aimlessly ran from point to point.
"Look," said the Indian, "quick, see the new leader!"
And sure enough there was a great, handsome fellow snorting out his
notes of authority and defiance. None now disputed his guidance, and so
off he started, and in a few seconds not a deer, with the exception of
those that were shot, was visible. No hunters could get within range
now, nor for many a day to come.
"Why did you give the word to stop firing?" said Alec.
"Because," answered the Indian, "we have killed as many as our people
can eat before the meat will spoil, and we must not kill the deer if we
do not need the meat. The Great Spirit gives us these things for food.
We must not make him angry by killing more than we need of such
animals."
Well done, red man! Would that some white hunters, when bent on the
wholesale destruction of valuable animals just for the mad ambition to
kill, had some of his wisdom and religion!
The deer were bled, and, when the entrails were removed, they were
placed where they could be found next day by those who would come for
them. The Indian cut out a splendid haunch, which he strapped on his
back, then the return trip was begun, and the camp was reached in the
small hours of the next morning. Very tired but very proud was Alec as
he strode with his Indian companion into the camp. The fire was burning
low, for all the rest of the party were sound asleep, and it looked as
though they had been so for hours. Alec, who had been so successful,
was anxious to hear how it had fared with Frank, who had started off
with another Indian after the other herd that had been sighted.
However, he was too tired and sleepy to say much then, and so Alec did
not trouble him. Alec enjoyed the hastily prepared supper, for which he
had a glorious appetite, after such a long, heavy day's exciting sport.
Then he rolled his blanket around him and cuddled between Sam and Frank,
and was soon wrapped in dreamless slumber.
The chief and favourite part of the breakfast the next morning was the
broiled steaks of that famous haunch of venison which Alec's comrade had
brought back to the camp.