288 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC 



some there, and the trail of it made, by drop- 

 ping a little at a time. Its effect for a while 

 was magical, for he sailed straight ahead, then 

 hesitated, but each fresh oil-baiting coaxed 

 him along a little, until he reached a point 

 about 12 feet from the snare. My pork 

 dangled 3 feet in front of the bowline, and 

 directly in its line, so it could not be taken 

 without his head first going through it. It 

 occurred to me to try a little coaxing with 

 that bait, so I dropped it along with the current 

 of the vessel, through the bow of the bow-line 

 and within three feet of him, knowing he could 

 not get it without first turning over on his 

 back. This seemed to infuriate him. He 

 wanted that bait, but fought shy of the vessel. 

 We were all eyeing him, with some of our 

 heads just peeping over the taffrail, others 

 looking through the hawser-pipes eight pairs 

 of anxious eyes on him. 



When the bait was hauled away from him 

 he made a short rush for it, but not to swallow 

 it, because he could not. The pork was 

 getting so much soaked there was little 

 substance leaving it, so a fresh piece was 

 brought into requisition. 



