TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 285 



As we threaded our way onwards, here and there 

 passing through dense patches of dwarf underwood, 

 and moving noiselessly over the yielding snow, ever 

 and again we came on places where the moose had 

 stopped to browse upon the willow twigs, showing 

 that he was not travelling very fast. Suddenly, 

 during one of the occasional halts which we made to 

 stop and listen for a while, there broke upon the 

 still air the hoarse, deep, grunting note of an angry 

 bull moose. Shortly afterwards it was answered by 

 another bull, which seemed to be even closer to us 

 than the first one. Standing motionless we listened, 

 and could plainly hear the nearest bull thrashing the 

 brushwood with his antlers, a certain sign that he 

 was angry, and that a fight was impending. The 

 nearest bull was barely then a hundred yards away, 

 but so thick were the trees and underbrush that we 

 could not catch a glimpse of him. Gradually the 

 two animals sounded to be drawing nearer, until we 

 heard the rushing of a heavy body through the 

 bushes, and then a mighty crash of horns as the 

 two monarchs met. Again and again there came to 

 us the sound of the clashing horns, and whispering 

 to Agnes that we must not miss this splendid sight 

 we set off quietly in the direction of the sound. It 

 appeared as if one bull was having rather the best 

 of matters, and was driving the other further away, 

 since we soon came on the spot where the combat had 

 commenced, as was clearly evinced by the trampled 

 snow and broken bushes. Following up the noise of 

 battle we came on a small clearing, or forest glade, 



