180 AN INTERESTING SIGHT. 



virgin woods. Here and there a hoary tree caught the 

 moonlight on its gray outstretched arms and moss-clad 

 trunk, standing forth like a sentinel, relieved against 

 the sombre background. 



The western shore of the lake was visible to the 

 hunters for almost its whole length, fringed by a 

 pebbly beach. Upon this, and at a considerable dis- 

 tance, some large animals were grouped together near 

 the edge of the forest. Jake was the first to draw the 

 attention of his companions to them with the exclama- 

 tion, 



"Gollies! look yonder, fellurs! Thur's a gang o' 

 moose five o' them at that. Ef they'd only kim this- 

 a-way, I guess I'd let that carcajou slide an' go fur one 

 o' them. Jest to think o' bein' done out o' steak an' 

 mouffle by that rotted critter. This child ain't a-gwiiie 

 to stand by an' see it done. No, he ain't." 



The moose, however, did not seem to have any imme- 

 diate intention of leaving their position, and the hunters 

 continued to regard them with undiminished interest. 

 Gaul tier proposed that they should descend, and, avail- 

 ing themselves of the cover afforded by the woods, get 

 within shot of the noble game. They were just about 

 -to discuss this project when their attention was diverted 

 to another channel by a sudden commotion which arose 

 by the verge of the lake just in front of their ambush. 

 The widening circles in the water indicated the exact 

 spot; and looking closely they soon observed a dark 

 object making frantic but vain efforts to leave the lake 



