1 86 ■ THE SPORTSMAN' S PARADISE; 



certain that this traveller had crossed at this point during 

 the previous night, since there were no tracks at this place 

 during the preceding day. The tracks indicated that the 

 animal had passed leisurely within a few rods of our tents 

 while we were probably sleeping, and near us there were at 

 that moment five dogs. This is the second moose which 

 has come within close proximity to us during the night 

 since we reached the Lower Long Lake. Having spent a 

 few moments in the examination of this trail, we then 

 started forward and soon reached Sugar-Bush Lake, where 

 we entered our canoes, paddled across, and were soon 

 tramping once more in the forest. Hail and rain, with fitful 

 gusts of wind, now alternated with each other, but my body 

 was warmed with the exercise and my spirits buoyed up in 

 anticipation of the grand and exciting chase on which we 

 expected so soon to enter. Sunshine was no longer neces- 

 sary for my happiness, and the " blue devils" which made 

 time hang so heavily on my hands in the morning had now 

 been driven off. 



Our route this morning took us through a heavily- 

 wooded and somewhat hilly country, although our pro- 

 gress was not much impeded by underbrush, and this, in 

 fact, is generally true of the great forest in which we are 

 now journeying, except where we are so unfortunate as 

 to enter its swamps and low ground. We have, hereto- 

 fore, travelled through this forest in our canoes, keeping 

 on the lakes and rivers as long as this was practicable, en- 

 deavoring to avoid, so far as possible, long portages, but 

 the country in which we are now about making our recon- 

 noissance is not so well adapted to this mode of travel. 



