Success! After a long vigil behind the emu blind, our quarry took the bait. The spotted snow emu emerged from its burrow only long enough to drag the keg underground. An hour later, armed with shovels, we extracted the giant avian from its hole and lashed it to the largest of our dogsleds. The feast would be very flavourful this year ? the emu had consumed the entire keg.

The trip home was full of song and laughter. Our arrival at the village was marked with fanfare and cries of G'day, eh! After unhitching the dogs and lemurs, Doug slipped off to see his family, while the other Doug and I beat the emu senseless with the Barenaked Ladies box set.

Tonight, Sunday night, will be a quiet one. That is, as long as the Mounties can defend the village perimeter from the roving packs of beavers, which, at this time of year, leave their dams to raid villages for food.