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In the first place, the barren-ground caribou are to-day enormously numerous, undoubtedly running up into millions. It can not be possible that they are being killed faster than they are breeding; and so they must be increasing. Their food supply is unlimited. They are protected by two redoubtable champions, Jack Frost and the Mosquito. Their country never will contain a great human population.
There is, moreover, good evidence that the native destruction has diminished. As already seen, the tribes which hunt the Barren-Ground Caribou, number less than one-half of what they did 100 years ago. Since then, they have learned to use the rifle, and this, I am assured by all the traders, has lessened the destruction.
The natives are so few in number, and so lazy, that even though they should become supplied with modern firearms, it is unlikely that they ever will make a serious impression on the caribou millions. The only thing to fear for the barren-ground caribou throngs is disease, a factor that is beyond human prediction.
They are accustomed to gnaw their fallen antlers and are said also to devour mice. The weight of a full-grown barren-ground deer, exclusive of the offal, varies from ninety to one hundred and thirty pounds. There is however a much larger kind found in the woody parts of the country whose carcass weighs from two hundred to two hundred and forty pounds.
While I was considering, Preble said: "I tell you this delay is playing the mischief with our Barren-Ground trip; we should have started for the north ten days ago," which was in truth enough to settle the matter. I knew perfectly well beforehand what Bezkya's report would be. At 6.30 he returned to say he found nothing but old tracks.
We'll be able to land where they have passed in fifteen minutes, an ideal landing-place tramped hard." With a grin Barney obeyed orders, and, as his engines began to revolve, felt himself shooting skyward. "Now it's clear," roared the Major. Barney did not respond on the instant. He was thinking of something he had read about the "camp-followers of the barren-ground caribou."
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