198 THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



animals were as numerous as the tracks of cows about a 

 large dairy-barn soon after the first fall of snow in autumn. 

 Here was probably about one acre of this forest which 

 had been so thoroughly tracked over within an hour that 

 it was wholly impossible to follow out the trail of any par- 

 ticular animal, on account of the numerous intersections 

 and obliterations caused by the wanderings of this nu- 

 merous herd. 



Slowly, cautiously, and stealthily the captain moves 

 over this yard. He discovers every bush which has been 

 cropped, every tree that has been peeled, and does not 

 even nesflect to examine the evacuations: these he finds are 

 still warm. George Ross and myself follow closely behind 

 the captain. Our anticipations are now of the most de- 

 lightful sort ; the gods are favoring us ; the storm ceased 

 just before we discovered the moose-trail, and now the 

 conditions are most favorable for the chase. Nature has 

 provided a carpet which deadens the sounds that would 

 otherwise be made by our foot-falls ; the same covering 

 leaves the impress made by the animals' feet, while the 

 clouded sky enables us to" behold objects equally well in 

 any direction. We had now reached on the outskirts of 

 the yard a point where seven tracks diverged from the 

 common centre, and this trail we had followed only a short 

 distance when the captain turned to me, whispered in my 

 ear, " These moose have been here within thirty minutes ; 

 follow me slowly ; make no noise !" I was momentarily 

 puzzled by the positive assertion of my guide. 



How could he so positively say, " These moose have 

 been here within half an hour?" A glance at the tracks 



