WITH CARL OF THE HILL 9 



in hand, we move quietly on. And now it is Rappe's 

 turn. Carefully we follow Rappe, as, nose down, 

 he takes us through a patch of blaeberries and 

 down to the edge of a moss, and lo ! before us is the 

 slot of a big bull, leading right across the moss. 

 Rappe looks up into his master's face as who should 

 say, "It is right enough this time, come along." 

 I was fairly astonished. The trail was clearly at 

 least twenty hours old — such a trail as no moose- 

 hunter would have looked at twice ; but then we do 

 not use dogs when we follow the moose. So we 

 go on, slowly at first, but with a gradually mending 

 scent, until at last we are fairly running. It is quite 

 difficult in that rough ground to keep one's feet, for 

 both the hounds, though mute, are pulling all they 

 know. After some time at this we come suddenly 

 on a bed among some rushes where the elk has 

 lain. Beyond this point the track is fresh, and 

 then we slip the hounds and stand in silence, 

 waiting what shall fall. I look at my watch — it is 

 one o'clock. 



. Presently the deep tongue of Rappe is brought 

 back upon the wind with Talle's higher voice. 

 " Elgen " (the elk) says Carl below his breath ; and 

 then we follow on. 



^-elC 



