sees fine footin' this evenin'. A big band of
deer's workin' down this way, and they're like to come out any time.
'Tis a wonderful big band. Some years they comes and some years they
don't. This year they comes."

Skipper Zeb explained to Charley that at this season of the year the
snow became so deep in the wooded interior that the caribou, or wild
reindeer, had a great deal of digging to do with their hoofs to reach
the thick beds of moss which covered the ground beneath the snow, and
upon which the animals chiefly fed.

He also explained that each fall the caribou gathered in great bands or
herds, and when food became hard to get, they would move or migrate to
barren places, where the wind, its force unobstructed by trees, swept
the greater part of the snow from the moss covered ground, and thus it
was much easier for the animals to reach food. Such a barren was that
where the wolf fight had taken place, and where Toby had caught his fox.

"This band, I'm thinkin', is on the barrens to the nuth'ard of the mesh,
where you fights the wolves," said Skipper Zeb. "The footin' goes that
way. We'll have a look in the marnin'."

Not a sign of caribou had Toby or Charley seen the whole winter, and
Skipper Zeb's statement that a large herd was so near was exciting news.
All winter they had been living upon rabbits, partridges and an
occasional porcupine. Caribou venison would be a great treat, and the
boys were keen for the hunt.

The great event of the evening was reserved until after they had eaten.
Then Toby, with much dignity, opened a chest and brought forth the otter
and marten skins, and, as a climax, the silver fox pelt. Skipper Zeb was
quite overcome. His praise of the boys was unstinted.

"I makes a fine winter's hunt myself," said he, "but nary a silver has I
ever caught. I has a rare fine catch of martens and minks, and one cross
fox, three reds and seven whites, but I never catches a silver. 'Tis
worth all the fox skins I gets three times over!"

"And now we'll be havin' a wonderful lot o' things we needs," Mrs. Twig
smiled happily.

"Aye, _that_ we will!" Skipper Zeb boomed heartily. "We can afford un
now without stintin'. We'll have un! We'll have nigh to anything we're
minded to buy!"

Breakfast the following morning was an exciting meal. The boys could
scarce restrain their eagerness to be away to the barrens to look for
caribou, and they could talk of nothing else.

"I'm thinkin'," suggested Skip