170 



THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



the fleeing monster. I waited a few seconds, hoping for a 

 better opportunity ; but finally he made his escape without 

 my firing another shot at him. I have already said that 

 the movements of this animal were sluggish at first, but 

 they gradually became more rapid, and he had not trav- 

 elled more than five or six rods when his antlers were 

 thrown on his neck, and his movements had become so 

 rapid as to make his body indistinctly visible. The most 

 rapid movements of the animal have been described as a 

 shambling trot, which I am convinced is correct, while its 

 walk is not less awkward. The bird-dogs, that had re- 

 mained immovable and as silent as the dead in the tombs 

 of Egypt until the great monster had fairly started away 

 from them, now followed in hot pursuit and gave an abun- 

 dance of tongue. 



The striking of the great antlers of this king of the 

 forest against the small tree and brush, as he rapidly 

 passed through the woods, made nearly as much noise as 

 our discreet dogs ; but these sounds were soon lost to my 

 ears. 



I do not think that either myself or the moose was ever 

 entirely satisfied with the termination of this meeting. It is 

 true that the moose rather reluctantly withdrew from the 

 field after I had drawn blood, but he did not thereby yield 

 to the demand which I had made. The bird-shot fairly 

 peppered the poor animal's face, while the rifle cartridge 

 went far from the mark at which it was aimed. 



I now started for the lake-shore in order that I mio^ht 

 signal the captain to come for me with a canoe and take me 

 back to the camp, my wishes in this matter being made 



