24 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



as " well met." Not until our canoes had approached 

 within about one hundred and fifty yards did the old 

 moose, standing in the shallow water near the river 

 bank, appear to notice us. Then, apparently apprehend- 

 ing danger, but without alarm, she turned toward the 

 shore, and, followed by her calf, walked up the bank 

 towards the woods. As she did so my brother fired 

 from his canoe, wounding her in the hind-quarters. I 

 then fired, but struck the clay bank above the animal's 

 head, and in attempting to fire again the shell stuck in 

 my rifle, making it impossible for me to reload. Just 

 as the moose was disappearing into the woods my 

 brother fired again, and inflicted a body wound ; but in 

 spite of all away went the deer. 



As our canoes were thrust ashore I succeeded in 

 extracting the shell from my rifle, and leaving some of 

 the men in charge of the canoes, my brother and I gave 

 chase. The trail of blood was discovered on the leaves, 

 but it led into such a jungle of fallen timber and thicket 

 that it was no easy matter to follow. Scouts were sent 

 out on either side, while with our rifles we followed the 

 trail, running when we were permitted, jumping logs 

 that came in the way, and clambering over or through 

 windfalls that the moose had cleared at a bound. 

 Presently through the leafy thicket we had a glimpse of 

 our prey. Bang went both rifles and away bounded 

 the moose with two more slugs in her body. 



We were now pretty badly winded, but being anxious 

 to complete the work we had undertaken, the chase was 

 kept up. We knew from the wounds already inflicted 

 that the capture was only a matter of physical endurance 

 on our part, and we were prepared to do our best. More 



