244 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



would be knocked down and his horns would rattle 

 against the trees, and then all would be silent for 

 several minutes. 



The moose was between fifty and seventy-five yards 

 away, and now Dyche began to fear that the animal 

 would refuse to come out where he could be seen. 

 All the while the naturalist was getting colder and 

 colder, but he did not dare take a step or get into an 

 easier position for fear of sending the animal back to 

 the forest. It became evident that the moose did not 

 intend to cross the river, and the hunter determined 

 either to bring the game out or send him back home. 

 With the birch-bark horn he gently rubbed the top of 

 the willows. It was the challenge from one bull to 

 another. Instantly all sound from the bull ceased. 

 The big moose stood and listened. Dyche waited 

 fully half an hour, but never a sound came from the 

 bull. The rain now came down heavily, and Dyche 

 decided that it was of no use to waste more time with 

 the moose. He gave the bushes another rub and then 

 emitted a defiant grunt from the horn. The effect was 

 magical. The moose bolted straight for the deep 

 woods, making as much noise as a pair of horses 

 running away with an empty hay- wagon. He knew 

 he had been deceived and stopped for nothing. Dyche 

 was half -frozen and his legs were stiff, but he was 

 able to get a little amusement out of the bull's fran- 

 tic flight. 



For three weeks the swamps were hunted in every 

 direction, and during the whole time not a gun was 

 fired. An old flat-bottomed scow which they had 

 brought in with them was caulked, and they started 



