206 THE RECLUSE. 



what attracted his notice, and for many hours manifests 

 an increased watchfuhiess. Hence, it requires the utmost 

 patience of an Indian hunter to stalk moose successfully. 



The Indians believe that this animal, when other re- 

 sources fail, has the power of remaining under water for 

 a long time. It may be an exaggeration growing out 

 of their experience of the many marvellous devices which 

 he occasionally practises for self-preservation, and in 

 which they believe he is more accomplished than the fox, 

 or any other animal. A curious story is told, which may 

 serve to illustrate the reputation of the beast in the eyes 

 of those children of the forest, if it be worth no more. If 

 there is any truth in it, we must assume that the animal 

 managed to brino; his nostrils to the surface at intervals ; 

 but how he could do this so as to elude the observation 

 of his hunters is the marvel. For it must be borne in 

 mind that they were Red Indians, not white men. 



Two credible Indians, after a long day's absence on a 

 hunt, came in and stated that they had chased a moose 

 into a small pond ; that they had seen him go to the 

 middle of it and disappear, and then, choosing positions 

 from which they could see every part of the circumference 

 of the pond, smoked and waited until evening ; during all 

 which time they could see no motion of the water, or 

 other indication of the position of the moose. 



At length, being discouraged, they had abandoned all 

 hope of taking him, and returned home. Not long after- 

 wards came a solitary hunter, loaded with meat, who re- 

 nted, that having followed the track of a moose for some 



