THE MOOSE. 261 



We had several dogs of all breeds, from terriers to fox- 

 hounds, with us, and one mongrel that was a combination of 

 bull-dog and greyhound. This individual would not only 

 run down but boldly attack a moose; hence his fame was 



8NOW-8UOE. 



great, and many were the laudations he received. Our 

 route led through a heavy forest, where the ground was 

 deeply covered with snow having a hard but rather light 

 crust. When we reached a favorable situation we scatter- 

 ed out and commenced searching for " signs," and quarter- 

 ed in every direction to the windward. After beating a 

 tract of four or five square miles, we struck a large yard 

 that was surrounded by a wall of snow three or four feet 

 deep, and was traversed in every direction by well-beaten 

 paths. This must have had an area of two or three square 

 miles, as the trails led into a dense thicket of foliaceous 

 trees, which we subsequently found to be three miles from 

 where we first met the yard. On reaching this most wel- 

 come spot, the dogs, which had been kept to heel before, 

 were now set to work, and in a few moments we heard a 

 tremendous howl in many keys directly in front. We knew 

 then that the game was started, and away we sped in pur- 

 suit at our best pace. As I was not very proficient in the 

 use of snow-shoes, I found the run exceedingly laborious, 

 and often sent myself sprawling on the hard snow by my 

 awkwardness. I also collided against trees occasionally, 

 and brought their white covering in showers over my 

 person. These might be pleasant enough if a portion did 

 not go down my neck and back, and make me shiver as if 

 I had been dipped in ice-water. The suddenness of the 

 showers also took my breath away sometimes, but the 



