268 The Wilderness Hunter 



nally from New Hampshire. Late in November 

 there came a heavy fall of snow, deep enough to 

 soon bring a deer to a standstill, although not so 

 deep as to hamper a moose s movement. The men 

 bound on their skees and started to the borders of 

 a lake, to kill some blacktail. In a thicket close to 

 the lake s brink they suddenly came across a bull 

 moose; a lean old fellow, still savage from the rut. 

 Pingree, who was nearest, fired at and wounded him ; 

 whereupon he rushed straight at the man, knocked 

 him down before he could turn round on his skees, 

 and began to pound him with his terrible forefeet. 

 Summoned by his comrade s despairing cries, Pur 

 vis rushed round the thickets, and shot the squeal 

 ing, trampling monster through the body, and im 

 mediately after had to swing himself up a small 

 tree to avoid its furious rush. The moose did not 

 turn after this charge, but kept straight on, and 

 was not seen again. The wounded man was past 

 all help, for his chest was beaten in, and he died in 

 a couple of hours. 



