374 



He had expected to see his charmer 

 at the lake and was a little puzzled. 



" Shoot, he'll go," whispered in 

 my ear. 



"Isn't it too far?" I breathed. 

 An impatient shake- of the head 

 answered. The moose had turned 

 and stood entirely revealed in the 

 sunlight. He threw up his head 

 perhaps a little suspicious at the 

 silence. " Quick, you'll never have 

 another chance like this!" 



"Are you sure it is a big head, 

 Bert?" The look of disgust that 

 draped my guide from head to foot 

 caused me to raise the gun. But 

 it wobbled in every direction. I 

 could not hold it up. All strength 

 seemed to have left. Calling pride 

 to the rescue I managed to get it 

 into position, and, even, to aim 

 carefully and fire. As I did so the 

 great creature turned on his back 

 track having decided that it was 

 about time to go. He stopped as 

 the sound of the explosion and then 

 another went booming toward him. 

 The sounds were the only things 

 that did reach him, as the bullets 

 struck far short in the water. 



