DEATH OF THE MOOSE COW 87 



He rose willingly, and followed obediently as 

 ever, waiting for the slip rails to be thrown down 

 that he might pass through to the bush track they 

 so often walked over. Where the trail was wide 

 enough they went side by side, Saidie and he, but 

 sometimes she forged ahead and led the way. 



Past the Indian settlement, lying asleep in the 

 moonhght, on and on to the fringe of the sable- 

 robed forest, and at its edge the girl stopped and 

 removed the halter from the deer's neck, gripping 

 him firmly still by the long hair growing on the 

 humped shoulders. 



Suddenly she dropped her hand and stood a 

 Httle apart. 



*' You are free, Moosewa I" 



He looked about in stupor ; the idea of freedom 

 was not tangible to one who had been a prisoner 

 so long. 



" You are free, Moosewa 1" 



He understood. 



Just for a moment his quick eyes scanned the 

 trail whereon he had so often walked, the backward 

 path to the post — he would never tread it again ! 

 Swift as a bird he flew into the tremulous shadows, 

 rushing through the density as only a moose can. 



