170 Moose -Hunting. 



" I make mistake this mornin' when I call Swarsin ole woman ; 

 Swarsin musquash [muskrat], like'm water pretty well," said Sebatis. 



Being in close proximity to the moose-sign discovered by Sebatis 

 in the morning, we had to proceed with extreme caution so as not to 

 make the slightest noise, and at the same time keep to the leeward 

 of the moose. We had just gained the cover of a maple forest when 

 Sebatis halted abruptly, and, pointing to a newly peeled maple, said : 



"Fresh sign; moose peel 'em this mornin'." 



And then commenced one of those wonderful exhibitions of skill 

 on the part of the Indians, which is ever a matter of surprise and 

 admiration to the white hunter : this sure and confident tracking of 

 an unseen animal, through pathless forests, swamps and bogs, now 

 stopping to examine a broken twig or a half obliterated foot-print in 

 the yielding moss, or to note something utterly beyond the ken of 

 a white man, such as the disturbance of the water in some blackish 

 pool, or the displacement of objects which would escape the observa- 

 tion of any one but an Indian. 



After tramping on in silence for nearly an hour, I ventured to ask 

 Sebatis how much start the moose had. 



" Moose little more 'n hour ahead, walking pretty fast; may be 

 lay down by-em-by, then we find 'im." 



The country through which we were passing was covered with an 

 unbroken forest of deciduous trees, among which the maple predom- 

 inated. The brisk October air was just tempered enough to render 

 walking enjoyable, and the hazy sun of a late Indian summer lighted 

 up the forest with a peculiar, dreamy, golden glow. 



As we penetrated deeper into the forest, the trees took on larger 

 forms, and here and there giant pines in groups of two and three 

 darkened our way. 



" You keep 'im same course; Swarsin an' me go hunt fresh sign 

 somewhere," said Sebatis, rousing me out of a reverie, and stalking 

 off in ghostly silence, Swarsin following him like his shadow, and as 

 noiseless. 



As directed, I kept my course and tramped onward, the forest 

 increasing in density and gloom as I advanced. I had probably 

 traveled a mile or more, when I approached a dark group of pines, 

 in the center of which rose something gray and weather-stained, 

 having the appearance of an abandoned habitation. As I stood looking 



