174 THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



time he is dangerous and savage in die extreme, and will 

 even attack a man when provoked, if he cross his path in 

 his moments of wanton dalliance. 



" If he discovers then the hunter who is luring him by 

 playing with his tenderest passions, he will charge him on 

 the instant, fearless ; and woe betide the luckless wight 

 whose hand trembles in the aim, or whose rifle misses fire 

 at that crisis. A bull moose seventeen or eighteen hands 

 in height, with antlers of six feet spread, and hoof as big 

 as an ox's, the edges of which cut like a sabre, and which 

 he can handle as deftly as a prize-fighter, is anything but a 

 pleasant customer at close quarters," 



This statement, however, failed to carry conviction to 

 the captain's mind, and his reply was that he had never 

 heard this moose-calling, although he had spent much time 

 in these forests. In answer to this statement I merely 

 called his attention to the fact that he had only been ac- 

 quainted with the moose ten or twelve years, since they 

 were not previously found in this section of Canada; and 

 that, even according to his own admissions, he had never 

 spent any time in the moose country during their rutting 

 season. "This is all very true," replied the captain. "I 

 shall now keep my ears open, and if I hear these bulls 

 bellowing, then I shall be prepared to admit the truth of 

 the statement made in the book." He had only a short 

 time to wait, since the next move brougHt us fairly into 

 the moose country, and while we were still pushing for- 

 ward on the portage, having scarcely yet reached the 

 Sportsman's Paradise, the loud bellowing of a bull moose 

 was distinctly heard by our whole party. The captain 



