The Land of the Muskeg 293 



the top of a dead weed, looking for his 

 supper. 



Oat of the gray green twilight of the 

 Muskeg, where it is always half day and 

 half night, stalks a massive dark-brown 

 figure. The coat of this strange figure is 

 long and glossy, telling of good feed and 

 plenty. Black glowing eyes look out from 

 shaggy eyebrows at the peaceful scene, while 

 from beneath the jowl a long thick black 

 beard nearly sweeps the ground. This 

 beard is rather unkempt, being filled with 

 nettles and beggar's-lice. 



The impression that one gets from this 

 massive figure, with its heavy fore-quarters, 

 and its massive head, is one of strength. 

 This is a creature that would withstand 

 anything, you would say. Yet this is not 

 so, for this erstwhile King of the Plains has 

 gone down before the rifle of man, where 

 many a smaller, weaker creature has sur- 

 vived. 



