WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN 259 



" Oh, if I had only had the gun, I know I 

 could have dropped him here within 30 feet 

 of me. See his tracks where he went. He 

 excited me so, I actually threw the axe at him 

 as he passed, which just escaped our having to 

 bury another dog. I could hear you screech- 

 ing and laughing, and thought it very funny 

 you would let such a rare chance at such a 

 moose escape purposely, unless you had taken 

 another moralizing fit. You won't catch me 

 hunting again with such a tender-hearted chap 

 as you ! Why did you come ? You must have 

 known that the dogs would stop them, and 

 they would have to be shot then or not at 

 all!" 



Thus was I harangued by E. When I re- 

 lated my ridiculous toss-over, and the frantic 

 efforts to relieve myself, the ludicrous part was 

 so prominent he did laugh a little ; but all this 

 did not save the moose. He had escaped, 

 and the only satisfaction left was to look at 

 the immense tracks, and sigh over "what 

 might have been." Ready has left him and 

 returned, so we will see what is in store for us 

 with the fellow somewhere between here and 

 home. 



