TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 301 



through the woods, broken, realistic, the actual inso- 

 lent challenge of a forest monarch spoiling for a 

 fight. Again and again the ringing call, full of 

 pulsating life, an imperious summons, afire with 

 furious throbbing passion. 



A little space of time, and then on the still air came 

 the sound of a heavy body crashing through all im- 

 pediments, a smashing of the undergrowth. My very 

 blood tingled with excitement, little shivers ran up 

 and down my spine. 



Straight as an arrow, from the depths of the forest, 

 a moose broke into the open, coming at a quick pur- 

 poseful trot, his rounded nose held high in the air, 

 his beautiful antlers lying along his flanks. The 

 moon shone full on the gleaming horns, and out- 

 lined every contour of the massive body. A splendid 

 tassel of hair hung from beneath the swelling throat, 

 and every swinging movement was a perfection of 

 royal grace. 



Up went the weighty head, and then in bellowing 

 resonant tones came the answering battle cry, sobbing 

 and panting over the silence. "To arms! To 

 arms!" 



The great creature stood listening, tense and rigid, 

 then, of a sudden, knowledge of the presence of the 

 unseen people around him came to his inflamed brain. 

 The wind carried the dread human scent to the sniff- 

 ing nostrils, and I saw distinctly a visible tremor of 

 alarm strike the moose as he stood so near to me 

 that I could count the points of his antlers easily. 

 Gathering himself together the frightened animal 



