TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 287 



large a beast at such shore range. But alas ! I waa 

 counting my chickens I Just as I was nearing the 

 edge of the glade I came almost face to face with a 

 cow moose, which had been screened from view by 

 a patch of thick bushes, and had been probably an 

 interested spectator of the combat, considering the 

 fact that the whole trouble doubtless arose over a 

 dispute about her ladyship's favours. 



Almost before I caught sight of her she was off 

 at a gallop across the open ground, uttering a loud 

 startled cry as she went, which gave the warning. 



Now, as our friend Livy states, " Mars is fickle, 

 and the fortunes of war are contrary," and thus it 

 was that although this contretemps was the means 

 of saving the old bull's life from my rifle, it almost 

 caused his death at the horns of his adversary. As 

 I ran forward a few paces to get an open space for 

 shooting, the big bull, warned by the cry, turned 

 slightly towards us, and in that moment the other 

 bull, taking advantage of the exposed side, smote 

 the big beast between the joints of his harness, and 

 struck him such a terrible blow on the shoulder that 

 he almost lifted the huge animal off his legs. He, 

 poor brute, taken at a disadvantage, and threatened 

 by a known and unknown danger, was forced to save 

 himself by momentarily seeking the shelter of the 

 neighbouring wood. No sooner had he recovered 

 himself from the other's attack than he swung round 

 quickly and dashed out of sight into the brushwood. 



So quickly had the whole thing happened that I 

 had no chance to get a shot at him ere the big bull 



