DEATH OF THE MOOSE COW 79 



The warmth was comforting, enervating in fact, 

 and with each fresh log thrown into the stove the 

 moose felt more and more disinclined to face the 

 rigours outside. In spite of the extra thick pelage 

 with which he had been provided all in readiness 

 for winter, he believed himself, after a night of 

 luxury, an inside beast, a thing to be pampered. 

 Had it been otherwise, some instinct surely would 

 have bidden him prepare, like the bear, for emer- 

 gencies I 



The trader taught him his mistake, which was 

 just as well, perhaps, refusing further hospitality, 

 and turning the shrinking deer into the snow. 



The Chinaman, bribed by a silver dollar to the 

 rescue, and resourceful as all his race, speedily 

 built up a shelter that served Moosewa well. He 

 could lie far back in it, and through an opening in 

 the logs watch the night sky lighten and dawn 

 come. There was a scheme, too, for holding up 

 the provender of tree-tops and brush-wood odds 

 and ends, or bark when nothing else was to be had, 

 at a height which suited the limitations of a short, 

 thick neck. 



Now that he had some protection, he could bear 

 the winter better ; indeed, at this season, imprison- 



