NEZ' BIG MOOSE 319 



Dodo opened her mouth to exclaim at this, but her 

 father broke in : — 



" Certainly, north woods American. There are al- 

 most as man}^ kinds of American spoken here as there 

 are states in tlie Union, but you see, Dodo, there are 

 only a very few people in each state who speak pure 

 American or English, and the others doubtless think 

 it a very strange language." 



" Jest so ! " exclaimed Nez. 



"Are there a great many fences built of Moose 

 horns ? " asked Rap. 



" Nope, I've never seen one," said Nez, " nor found 

 more'n an odd horn here and there. The Injuns allow 

 the Moose claws earth and snow over 'em to hide 'em, 

 as soon as they're shed. Seems likely, too, and then it 

 stands to reason that the horns mould, and rats and 

 mice gnaws 'em away." 



