AFTER THE MONSTER 13 



make a temporary " lean-to " for the night, 

 which took us till nearly sundown. Then 

 Jack took up a position on a big boulder at 

 the very front of the bog, while Bob and I 

 went up the bog 100 yards or more to meet 

 him if he came down. We concealed our- 

 selves behind small spruces, with our guns 

 resting over them. Jack speaks : no reply. 

 He speaks again, all are intently listening. 

 Presently there came a rejoicing "Bwar!" 

 but a long way off. Again we call, and again 

 he answers, nearer than before. Now our 

 hearts are going " pit-a-pat " at the imaginary 

 appearance of that monster, and the remem- 

 brance of those fore legs flying about, as we 

 had seen them the first night out. We speak 

 again, and again he answers, but apparently 

 not much nearer. Then we lost trace of him, 

 although continually calling in all the wooing, 

 coaxing tones known to hunters ; but he gave 

 no response. Yet we were on the qui vive 

 looking up the bog, our eyes and ears at the 

 greatest tension, with the guns cocked, ex- 

 pecting any moment to see our game. Dusk 

 had come, and we had concluded to give up 

 for the night, when suddenly, and without 



