rs, and
could easily have got at them there. They had reason to believe there
were wolverenes about; for these fierce and destructive beasts are found
in every part of the fur countries--wherever there exist other animals
upon which they can prey. Eagles, hawks, and owls, moreover, would have
picked the partridges from the branches of the trees without difficulty.
One proposed burying them in the snow; but Norman assured them that the
Arctic foxes could scent them out, and dig them up in a few minutes.
Then it was suggested to cover them under a pile of stones, as there
were plenty of these lying about. To this Norman also objected, saying
that the wolverene could pull off any stones they were able to pile upon
them--as this creature in its fore-legs possesses more than the strength
of a man. Besides, it was not unlikely that one of the great brown
bears,--a species entirely different from either the black or grizzly
bears, and which is only met with on the Barren Grounds--might come
ranging that way; and he could soon toss over any stone-heap they might
build. On the whole it was better that one of the four should remain by
the camp; and Lucien, who cared less about hunting than any of them,
willingly agreed to be the one.

Their arrangements were soon completed, and the three hunters set out.
They did not go straight towards the place where Norman had found the
deer upon the preceding day, but took a cross-cut over the hills. This
was by Norman's advice, who guided himself by the wind--which had not
changed since the previous day. He knew that the caribou in feeding
always travel _against_ the wind; and he expected therefore to find them
somewhere in the direction from which it was blowing. Following a
course, which angled with that of the wind, they kept on, expecting soon
to strike the trail of the herd.

Meanwhile Lucien, left to himself, was not idle. He had to prepare the
flesh of the different animals, so as to render it fit to be carried
along. Nothing was required farther than to skin and cut them up.
Neither salting nor drying was necessary, for the flesh of one and all
had got frozen as stiff as a stone, and in this way it would keep during
the whole winter. The wolf was skinned with the others, but this was
because his fine skin was wanted. His flesh was not intended to be
eaten--although only a day or two before any one of the party would have
been glad of such a meal. Not only the Indians, b