Page:Furcountryorseve00vernrich.djvu/134

7 2 THE FUR CO UN TR Y, sables, polecats, «fec., frequented these districts, hitherto undisturbed by hunters. They had thus far come to no trace of the presence of man, and the animals had chosen their refuge well. Footprints were also found of the fine blue and silver foxes, which are becoming more and more rare, and the fur of which is worth its weight in gold. Sabine and Mac- Nab might many a time have shot a very valuable animal on this excursion, but the Lieutenant had wisely forbidden all hunting of the kind. He did not wish. to alarm the animals before the approaching season — that is to say, before the winter months, when their furs become thicker and more beautiful. It was also desirable not to overload the sledges. The hunters saw the force of his reasoning ; but for all that, their fingers itched when they came within shot-range of a sable or some valuable fox. Their Lieutenant's orders were, however, not to be disobeyed. Polar bears and birds were, therefore, all that the hunters had to practise upon in this second stage of their journey. The former, however, not yet rendered bold by hunger, soon scampered off, and no serious struggle with them ensued. The poor birds suffered for the enforced immunity of the quad- rupeds. White-headed eagles, huge birds with a harsh screeching cry ; fishing hawks, which build their nests in dead trees and migrate to the Arctic regions in the summer ; snow buntings with pure white plumagb ; wild geese, which afford the best food of all the Anspres tribe ; ducks with red heads and black breasts ; ash- coloured crows, a kind of mocking jay of extreme ugliness ; eider ducks ; scoters or black divers, <fec. &c., whose mingled cries awake the echoes of the Arctic regions, fell victims by hundreds to the unerring aim of Marbre and Sabine. These birds haunt the high latitudes by millions, and it would be impossible to form an accurate estimate of their number on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Their flesh formed a very pleasant addition to the daily rations of biscuit and corned beef, and we can understand that the hunters laid up a good stock of them in the fifteen days during which they were debarred from attacking more valuable game. There would then be no lack of animal food; the magazines of the Company would be well stocked with game, and its offices filled with furs and traders ; but something more was wanted to insure success to the undertaking. Would it be possible to obtain a- sufficient supply of fuel to contend with the rigour of an Arctic J winter at so elevated a latitude ?