FOREST LIFE. 125 



to disengage me, lie threw out his nose, and, laying his antlers 

 back upon his shoulders, which formed a screen for my defense, 

 he sprang forward into a furious run, still bearing me upon his 

 neck. Now penetrating dense thickets, then leaping high " wind- 

 falls,"* and struggling through swamp -mires, he finally fell 

 through exhaustion, after carrying me about three miles. Im- 

 proving the opportunity, I drew my hunter's knife from its sheath, 

 and instantly buried it in his neck, cutting the jugular . 

 which put a speedy termination to the contest and the flight." 



The habits of the moose, in his manner of defense and attack, 

 are similar to those of the stag, and may be illustrated by the fol- 

 lowing anecdote from the "Random Sketches of a Kentuckian." 

 " Who ever saw Bravo without loving him ? His sloe-black 

 eyes, his glossy skin, flecked here and there with blue ; his wide- 

 spread thighs, clean shoulders, broad back, and low-drooping 

 . bespoke him the true stag-hound ; and none who ever saw 

 his bounding form, or heard his deep-toned bay, as the swift-foot- 

 ed stag flew before him, would dispute his title. List, gentle 

 er, and I will tell you an adventure which will make you love 

 him all the more. 



" A bright frosty morning in November, 183S, tempted me to 

 visit the forest hunting-grounds. On this occasion I was foil' 



fine-looking hound, which had boon presented to me a few 

 before by a fellow-sportsman. I was anxious to tost his 

 qualities, and, knowing that a mean dog will not. often hunl 

 with a good on*'. I bad tied up 



oil by ill.* si range dog b of half an bom 



■ hi me to ilio wild for, -si hills. Sli | be rein, I 



and my way up ;i bruj ; 

 in Length. I bad ascended about balf 9 

 g;in to exhibit signs of uneasiness, and at th 



■ underbrush near by, and rushed like a whirl* 

 * Old fallen trei 



