HUNTING THE MOOSE. 49 



to form a half-circle in the snow when it was three or four feet 

 deep. " I have often," says Merritt, " measured their steps 

 in the snow, and found them seven feet apart." A man, five 

 and half feet high, could walk under the belly of a full grown 

 one. They usually bring two young at a time. In winter, they 

 herd together, and as the snow increases they form yards, living 

 upon browse, the twigs and bark of trees. Sometimes they 

 will take a strip, following some ridge or swamp, feeding upon 

 the brush until they fill themselves, and then lie down, the 

 next day progressing on further. 



" The last moose which I killed," said Merritt, " was out 

 back of Brompton Lake in Canada. I was hunting with J. 

 Bonney. It was near night when we came upon a moose-yard. 

 We had taken provision but for one day. We were not ex- 

 pecting then to chase them, but merely to find the place of 

 yarding, and then wait until the snow became deeper before 

 we disturbed them. When the snow was deep, and par- 

 ticularly, when there was an icy crust, we could soon run them 

 down and shoot them. Bonney was for giving immediate 

 chase. I persuaded him to camp that night, and in the morn- 

 ing to ascertain where we could get some provisions, before 

 we started them, as the chase might last, as it frequently did, 

 when there was but little snow, five or six days. The next 

 day, it took us until about noon before we could find any 

 thing to eat. We then obtained three quarts of Indian-meal, 

 and about four pounds of bull-beef. We had with us a small 

 kettle, with the aid of which we made our meal into porridge. 

 Our dogs shared our provisions with us. We did but little 

 this day, the second of our trip, except to get back upon the 

 trail. The third day we gave chase; but, before night, 

 Bonney was for giving up the pursuit. I persuaded him to 

 continue, told him that he had been fierce to begin the pur- 

 suit when we had nothing to eat, and now when we had beef 

 and porridge, I was for goin^ ahead. Near night the dogs 

 came up with them, but too late for us to get a shot at them. 



5 



