THE MOOSE. 255 



several varieties; and as it had the appearance of being a 

 favorite feeding resort of the moose, we decided to halt 

 there and test our luck. It was also recommended to us 

 by the density of the coniferous forest in front, from which 

 issued at intervals the hideous roars and nightmarish 

 grunts of the animals. Having satisfied ourselves about 

 the advantage of the copse as a cover, I went to one end, 

 and my companion to another, while the Indian took up 

 his quarters in a tree-top about three hundred yards behind 

 and nearly equidistant from us. 



When he had established himself comfortably he com- 

 menced his deer lay of love, and grunted and roared out 

 his erotic strains for two hours with a perseverance and 

 artistic finish most highly commendable; but neither cau- 

 tious veteran nor impulsive young bull came within rifle 

 range, although they answered him vigorously several 

 times from various directions. Thinking that the animals 

 might have winded me, and therefore kept away, I threw 

 up a leaf, and saw from its course that I was to the lee- 

 ward of the majority of the vocalists who had answered 

 the call ; so I decided that being winded was not the cause 

 of their non-appearance. As the vigil was becoming weari- 

 some, and I was getting sleepy, it being past midnight, 

 and the moose seemed indifferent to the red man's persist- 

 ent appeals, I concluded to start for camp; but before I 

 had made up my mind to move, a sturdy young bull came 

 dashing through the forest, and, on coming into an open 

 spot, stopped suddenly, bent his long head forward to catch 

 the exact direction of the sweet strains, and commenced 

 sniffing the air, as if trying to detect the presence of a foe. 



He was scarcely forty yards from me, and, feeling rather 

 nervous about him, I fired just as he attempted to advance, 

 but I only succeeded in breaking one of his forelegs. When 

 he recovered from the shock and surprise he bolted at once 

 for the heavy forest, and, as I did not want to lose him, I 

 followed in hot pursuit. I found this hard work, however, 

 as I could only catch a glimpse of him occasionally; and 

 the only real guide I had to follow his course was the 



