44 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



the forest to intercept onr quarry, and heard it 

 give two or three low grimts. Then its dark 

 form came dimly into sight amongst the trees 

 which grew very close together. It was not 

 more than fifty yards off, bnt the stems of the 

 trees hid it to snch an extent, that, moving as 

 it was, I shonld prol)ably have missed it and 

 hit a tree had I fired hurriedly. 



As George and I had halted suddenly on the 

 instant when the moose first became visible 

 to us, we were not hidden from it behind the 

 stems of trees, but we stood perfectly still, and 

 the doomed animal never turned its head 

 towards us nor seemed in the least suspicious 

 of danger, but came steadily forward. It had 

 none of that appearance of alertness or timidity 

 usually noticeable in wild animals in countries 

 where the}' are much hunted by man or 

 constantly preyed upon hj carnivorous beasts. 



The bidl had now changed its course, and 

 was advancing in a line that, had it kept, would 

 have brought it past us ahnost broadside on at 

 a distance of not more than thirty yards. I was 

 afraid, however, to wait any longer, lest an 



