248 The Wilderness Hunter 



one to the other of two young spruces, which hap- 

 pened to stand handily, and from it stretched and 

 pegged out a piece of canvas, which we were using 

 as a shelter tent. Beneath this we spread our bed- 

 ding, laying under it the canvas sheets in which it 

 had been wrapped. There was still bread left over 

 from yesterday's baking, and in a few moments the 

 kettle was boiling and the frying-pan sizzling, while 

 one of us skinned and cut into suitable pieces two 

 grouse we had knocked over on our march. For 

 fear of frightening the moose we built but a small 

 fire, and went to bed soon after supper, being both 

 tired and cold. Fortunately, what little breeze there 

 was blew up the valley. 



At dawn I was awake, and crawled out of my 

 buffalo bag, shivering and yawning. My compan- 

 ion still slumbered heavily. White frost covered 

 whatever had been left outside. The cold was sharp, 

 and I hurriedly slipped a pair of stout moccasins on 

 my feet, drew on my gloves and cap, and started 

 through the ghostly woods for the meadow where 

 we had seen the moose sign. The tufts of grass 

 were stiff with frost; black ice skimmed the edges 

 and quiet places of the little brook. 



I walked slowly, it being difficult not to make a 

 noise by cracking sticks or brushing against trees, 

 in the gloom; but the forest was so open that it 

 favored me. When I reached the edge of the beaver- 

 meadow it was light enough to shoot, though the 



