72 WITH GUN AND GUIDE 



rel before he had completely turned, I next tired what 

 should have been a raking shot, striking him on the left 

 hind quarter. But alas ! It didn't strike, and, there- 

 fore, didn't " rake." Another and yet another bullet 

 was fired after he got going, and then he crashed 

 through the alders, and disappeared, as if by magic. 



His route led over a bit of hard, firm ground as soon 

 as the alders were left. 



When the shooting was over Uncle Henry asked, 

 "Did you hit him?" 



" Why, surely I must have hit him. How could I 

 miss?" 



" Well, your first bullet cut a handful of hair from the 

 back of his neck," Henry said. 



We followed his tracks far enough to show that I had 

 made a complete miss with each of the four shots. I 

 could not be made to believe this at first, and I insisted 

 upon following the tracks up to the top of the ridge, 

 but alas ! and yet alas ! it was indeed too true. 



My first thoughts were not for myself in the deep 

 chagrin which I felt at this unlooked-for and ignomini- 

 ous failure ; but they were of Henry. What would he 

 think after all his care, his skill and his planning in get- 

 ting me up as close to the moose as any man could wish 

 for? 



" Give your thoughts no tongue, Uncle Henry," I said ; 

 " for really I do not care for myself in this matter, but 

 for you." 





