Moose -Hunting. 1 70 



"Now, then," said Swarsin, "we try find Sebatis; you follow me 

 creepin', then we don't make no noise 't all." 



Just then the hoot of the owl was repeated, and Swarsin crept on 

 with hastened speed. I followed as best I could, and was getting 

 pretty tired of my bargain, when the call of a bull-moose — this time 

 much nearer — echoed through the woods. 



" Bull-moose come by-em-by," said Swarsin ; " we best keep still 

 now." 



" How about Sebatis ? Isn't he waiting for us ? " 



M Sebatis here," replied that worthy, who had joined us so silently 

 as to escape my notice. 



" What is the matter with the moose ? " I whispered to Sebatis. 

 " Isn't he coming very slowly ? " 



" Well, I tell you," said Sebatis; " you see, that moose either devil, 

 else he know so much we can't cheat 'im easy. When I first try 'im 

 he answer kind of frightened, don't smash 'round 't all an' make big 

 noise. Mos' bull-moose, when he hear cow, get kind of jealous, you 

 see, an' begin roar an' smash 'roun', an' knock his horns on trees, try 

 make big noise, you see, an' scare off some other bull may be. Now 

 I try 'im again." 



And once more the marvelous imitation of the cry of the cow- 

 moose, in plaintive and gentle cadence, floated through the air. 



I should have been extremely disappointed if this last masterly 

 performance of Sebatis's had failed to elicit a response. For a time, 

 I thought that it had failed, when I was startled by hearing the angry 

 challenge of a bull, close at hand. 



" Sartin I cheat bull-moose that time," chuckled Sebatis ! "He's 

 comin' now, best have gun ready." 



For a few moments we listened intently, with our ears on the 

 alert for the slightest sound. 



" Sebatis," I whispered, " I'm afraid he wont come." 



" You jus' keep quiet little while, you see I know all 'bout it; 

 that very wise ole bull, he been fooled good many times, you see ; 



that make 'im pretty scarey — by-em-by — s'pose all quiet, I try 'im 



» _ • »» 

 gain. 



" Has he gone back from us since you called the last time ? " 



" No, he's comin' all time; but, you see, he try 'roun' every way 



first, try an' get our wind ; s'pose he don't get on lee side, we have 



'im sure." 



