60 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



The easy motion of the birch bark, the grand scenery and 

 the brilliant- coloured foliage recalled many a vision I had 

 formed of what fairyland must resemble. About four 

 o'clock we disembarked, our birch bark was shouldered, 

 and a portage of a mile or two traversed, when the margin 

 of a clear, calm lake was reached, surrounded by beautiful 

 green hills. Again we launched our canoe on the bosom 

 of the waters, arriving at a second halting place as the sun 

 in glorious splendour dipped the western horizon. Hiding 

 our frail birch-bark craft in some brush, with my attendant 

 leading, we started up an acclivity ; after an hour's rough 

 and difficult walking, the Indian stopped and sounded a 

 note on his calling-horn. To this there was no response, 

 but my friend assured me, " Plenty moose by-by." 



The night was as beautiful as the day preceding it. 

 The hunter's moon was at its full, and near objects could 

 be seen almost as distinctly as when the sun was high in 

 the heavens. Several efforts with the call had been madj ; 

 disappointment and failure began to appear certain, when 

 a distant and unknown sound struck my ear. At the same 

 moment the redskin seized my arm and whispered, " Old 

 bull." We both placed ourselves in a hemlock tiee, and 

 numerous were the injunctions I received of the necessity 

 of silence Afraid to move, cramped in an awkward 

 position, for near a mortal hour I endured the torments, 

 certainly not of the blessed; still move I would not, ulti- 

 mately could not, as the answering voice of the bull in 

 response to the Indian's call told that the giant was 

 rapidly approaching. At length oh, how glad I was ! 

 the noblest game I had ever set eyes upon broke into the 



