250 



THE WILDERNESS HUNTER. 



because under the conditions spoken of the 

 hunter must show great endurance and resolu- 

 tion, and must be an adept in the use of snow- 

 shoes. 



It all depends upon the depth of the snow 

 and the state of the crust. If when the snow 

 is very deep there comes a thaw, and if it then 

 freezes hard, the moose are overtaken and 

 killed with ease; for the crust cuts their legs, 

 they sink to their bellies at every plunge, and 

 speedily become so worn out that they can no 

 longer keep ahead of any man who is even 

 moderately skilful in the use of snow-shoes ; 

 though they do not, as deer so often do, sink 

 exhausted after going a few rods from their 

 yard. Under such circumstances a few hardy 

 hunters or settlers, who are perfectly reckless 

 in slaughtering game, may readily kill all the 

 moose in a district. It is a kind of hunting 

 which just suits the ordinary settler, who is 

 hardy and enduring, but knows little of hunt- 

 ing-craft proper. 



If the snow is less deep, or the crust not so 

 heavy, the moose may travel for scores of 

 miles before it is overtaken ; and this even 

 though the crust be strong enough to bear a 

 man wearing snow-shoes without breaking. 

 The chase then involves the most exhausting 

 fatigue. Moreover, it can be carried on only 

 by those who are very skilful in the use of 

 snow-shoes. These snow-shoes are of two 

 kinds. In the northeast, and in the most 

 tangled forests of the northwest, the webbed 

 snow-shoes are used ; on the bare mountain- 

 sides, and in the open forests of the Rockies, 

 the long narrow wooden skees, or Norwegian 



