286 A GOOD SHOT. 



sheltered nook. Round this the party stood drying 

 their clothing, which was thoroughly saturated with 

 the spray. 



During the night the storm moderated, and at day- 

 break perfect quiet prevailed. The lake, however, was 

 still much agitated, and they judged it prudent to 

 remain in camp until the waters had relapsed into their 

 normal quiescence. 



Shortly after breakfast Gaultier drew the attention 

 of his comrades to a huge bull moose which, unsus- 

 picious of danger, had emerged from the cover of the 

 scattered clumps of pines and willows on the lake shore, 

 and now stood about three hundred yards away, close 

 to the edge of the water. Pierre took his Winchester, 

 and resting one elbow on his left knee as he sat, took a 

 steady shot at the animal's shoulder. 



" Great Christopher Columbus ! " cried Jake, " that 

 thur lump o' lead has did the bisness ! " and in fact the 

 party observed the moose to give a tremendous bound 

 and then to fall, its head and shoulders in the lake, 

 while its hind quarters lay upon the pebbly beach. 



They immediately set out for the spot, and soon were 

 busied in flaying and cutting up the gigantic carcass. 



The district round Lake Athabasca is a favourite 

 haunt of the moose, which is also plentiful along the 

 courses of the Peace and Mackenzie rivers. 



The Fur Company's posts in these regions are chiefly 

 rationed with his flesh, for which nearly five hundred 

 moose are annually required by those stations which 



