nked up on all sides
with snow; but so steep are these sides left, that the deer can only get
up by the inclined plane which leads to the entrance. A great slab of
snow is then placed over the mouth of the pit, and revolves on two axles
of wood. This slab will carry the deer until it has passed the line of
the axles, when its weight overbalances one side, and the animal is
precipitated into the pit. The slab then comes back into a horizontal
position as before, and is ready to receive another deer. The animals
are attracted by moss and lichens placed for them on the opposite side
of the trap--in such a way that they cannot be reached without crossing
the slab. In this sort of trap several deer are frequently caught
during a single day."

Norman knew another mode of hunting practised by the Esquimaux, and
proposed that the party should proceed in search of the herd upon the
following day; when, should they succeed in finding the deer, he would
show them how the thing was done: and he had no doubt of their being
able to make a good hunt of it. All agreed to this proposal, as it
would be of great importance to them to kill a large number of these
animals. It is true they had now provision enough to serve for several
days--but there were perhaps months, not days, to be provided for. They
believed that they could not be far from the wooded countries near the
banks of the Mackenzie, as some kinds of the animal they had met with
were only to be found near timber during the winter season. But what of
that? Even on the banks of the great river itself they might not
succeed in procuring game. They resolved, therefore, to track the herd
of deer which Norman had seen; and for this purpose they agreed to make
a stay of some days at their present camp.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

A BATTLE WITH WOLVES.

Next morning they were up by early daybreak. The days were now only a
few hours in length, for it was mid-winter, and they were but three or
four degrees south of the Arctic circle. Of course they would require
all the day for the intended hunt of the caribou, as they might have to
follow the track of the herd for many miles before coming up with the
animals. Lucien was to remain by the camp, as it would never do to
leave the animals they had already lulled without some guard. To have
hung them on the trees, would have put them out of the reach of both
wolves and foxes; but the lynx and wolverene are both tree-climbe