THE MOOSE. 127 



trees, the branches and withered sprays being heaped 

 on top, soon roared and flamed, casting a ruddy and 

 hospitable glow far down the dark vista which opened 

 through the forest. 



Lairs were made round this at a comfortable dis- 

 tance, and the hunters awaited the boiling of their camp 

 kettle and the grilling of their venison-ribs over the 

 glowing embers. 



Pierre, at the request of his companions, occupied 

 supper-time with some remarks on the natural history 

 of the moose, an animal which they had already en- 

 countered, and from which the young naturalist him- 

 self had had a narrow escape. 



"There are probably very few facts in connection 

 with the moose," he began, " which you do not already 

 know. Still it is an interesting subject, and one 

 peculiarly appropriate to our present position. 



" While I was at Toronto, after our return from the 

 Saskatchewan last year, I made some notes on this 

 animal, which I will read for you. For some years I 

 have made a habit, as you, Gaultier, are aware, of 

 collecting whatever information I could acquire, either 

 from actual observation or from works on natural 

 history, with regard to the animals which are objects 

 of chase in North America. I have preserved the 

 result in this volume," he continued, producing a 

 manuscript neatly and strongly bound in leather. " I 

 have collected particulars of almost all the principal 

 animals which are usually met in these territories; 



