32 BIG GAME OF NORTH AMERICA. 



charged, and was kept coated with dust and rough with 

 rust by the owner, who did not know that better guns had 

 been made in later times. I went forth to secure venison, 

 uncertain as I was of the accuracy of the sights, as well as 

 of the powers of the rifle's execution, and, half in a spirit 

 of experiment, blew upon my hands as I had learned to do 

 when a boy, after I had failed to locate the game just where 

 I expected to find it. 



To my surprise, I heard the crackling of the brush 

 within gunshot, the animal that caused it coming nearer. 

 "I will kill the Deer," I thought, and was soon in position, 

 with the approaches well guarded. Sure enough, a dark 

 form passed in view, but it was too large and too dark for 

 a Deer. "It is a mule," I thought; but no! his gleaming 

 antlers appeared in full view. I knew the stranger then, but 

 was undetermined what to do. It was folly to shoot so far at 

 a Moose with that little old pop-gun, so I waited. The Moose 

 came blindly on, sniffing the air and beating the brush with 

 his wide-spread antlers, as if enraged and ready for battle. 



He came within thirty yards, standing with his great, 

 bulky form above a log which lay between us. He stood 

 stock-still, as if listening, and I feared lie would hear my 

 heart beat; but I controlled myself, drew a steady bead 

 with the coarse sight on the butt of his ear, and fired. The 

 bullet penetrated his brain; he dropped like a beef, and was 

 dead when I reached him. 



This Moose came at the call, but I believe he would have 

 come at any other signal just as promptly. In fact, I have 

 since heard of a bull Moose approaching camp apparently 

 in response to the bray of a mule. These beasts are full of 

 fight when they are on these excursions, and they would 

 almost fight a buzz-saw if it came in their way. I offer these 

 suggestions in explanation of the success attending the use 

 of the birch-bark horn. The Moose approaches the source 

 of the noise in a fit of rage at the intrusion, not knowing or 

 caring what or who it is, and not because he is deceived, nor 

 yet because the noise of the horn is an imitation of the 

 Moose language. 



