176 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



animals stay there for weeks together, browsing upon 

 the twigs of the trees, and remaining until they 

 have eaten up all the herbage in the neighbourhood. 

 We soon built up another snow cabin, cooked our 

 supper, and arranged ourselves around the fire. 

 Fortunately it was not so cold as on the previous 

 night, and we enjoyed a good night's rest. 



Next morning, when we awoke, it w^as rather 

 dark. The snow had fallen thickly, but we started 

 at once after moose, taking with us four of the 

 Indians and all the dogs. It was not easy travel- 

 ling, but in spite of every difficulty we arrived at a 

 spot where we found the tracks of the moose, and 

 then we thought no more of either cold or fatigue. 

 Our whole desire was to come across the moose, 

 and it was evident, from the tracks, that the herd 

 was a very numerous one. It was easy to perceive 

 the marks of their teeth on the branches all around, 

 and the freshness of the marks proved that they 

 were not far ahead of us. M'Lean, the Indians, and 

 the dogs now took up the chase with avidity ; but I 

 must confess that I was much less skilful in mj 

 snow shoes than my companions, and whilst they 

 flew on, I made many a stumble. Suddenly the 

 dogs stopped, and at the moment when we issued 

 from a dense thicket, we saw three enormous moose, 

 and the spectacle seemed to give our dogs fresh 

 power to their lungs. Like prudent animals, how- 

 ever, they kept their distance, and watched their 



