16 THE MOOSE 



and his coat outshone the mink's, whose exquisite 

 winter robe was leaving him. He was weary of 

 the water, tired of the extended trips below the ice, 

 and the musk-rats provided poor hunting just now. 

 Not that a business-Hke mink need fear the warlike 

 methods of musk-rats defending their young — a 

 mink is afraid of few animals. Let what will 

 attack him, a couple of agile jumps and he can out- 

 climb a squirrel, or with a twirl and a dive gain 

 the water in which he is as much at home as a fish. 



The moose calf lay cosily until dawn, to waken 

 with a start to hear the wind rushing down from 

 the mountain-tops to beat with tempestuous wings 

 against the walls of spring. 



" Tarry yet awhile !" whistled the keen breath of 

 the snow-sheeted peaks. *' Tarry yet awhile I" 



And, as if in mockery the laughing chuckle of 

 the cock ptarmigan echoed across the river. 



The rain swung over the lagoon, beating down 

 the rushes and the alder stems. Where the calf 

 lay up, snug and warm, the drenching rain could 

 not penetrate ; his mother had chosen well. And 

 at the memory of her forethought the young one's 

 heart nearly broke in twain. Why had she gone ? 

 Why ? It was cruel, cruel ! To what end had he 



