CHAPTER XYI. 



In the Swamps Habits of the Moose The Moose-Call On 

 the River Good Shooting Secures a Group The King of 

 Game Animals The Naturalist nearly Killed. 



JEPTEMBER was half gone. The cold 

 north wind brought ice and snow and 

 the conditions were changed in the 

 swamps. Travelling was as difficult as 

 it could well be. The chill air and snow put a 

 damper on the mosquitoes, however, and while these 

 pests were not exterminated they made their ap- 

 pearance only on the warmest days. Water was 

 everywhere and the whole swamp seemed converted 

 into one vast lake. It became necessary to build a 

 platform of poles and logs on which to make camp. 

 On this platform, twelve feet wide by twenty-four 

 long, was the equipment of the hunters. One end 

 supported the tent, while on the other a little clay 

 and wet debris from the bottom of the swamp was 

 placed. On this clay bed the fire was built, and as it 

 burned down to the water's edge the clay and ashes 

 made a good foundation. To prevent accident, how- 

 ever, the fire was extinguished whenever the hunters 

 left camp. 



All the hunting was now done in water, and the 

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