FOREST LIFE. 121 



very ; hadn't had any fresh pork before for nearly a year. It 

 was tender — it was sweet and good." With much.efibrt, the risi- 

 bility of the jokers was kept in subjection through the meal. 

 Many senseless things were said, and every thing seemed to elicit 

 laughter. 



Dinner over. " Well, captain, how have you enjoyed your din- 

 ner ?'' " First rate." " Do you know that you have been eat- 

 ing bear's meat?" "No I" said he ; "that M^arn't bear's meat, 

 was it ?" " Yes." He seemed incredulous ; but the evidences 

 were at hand ; the quarter from which the dinner had been taken, 

 was produced. Poor fellow I he looked as though he had swal- 

 lowed a lizard ; and, to " finish him up," the long-nailed shaggy 

 paw was produced. He could stand it no longer ; but, rushing 

 out of the camp, and throwing himself down upon his hands and 

 knees, he retched as though he had taken a dozen doses of ip- 

 ecacuanha, while all the rest of the crew were convulsed with 

 laughter at the poor fellow's distress. 



The moose is the largest species of deer found in the New En- 

 gland forest. Their size varies from that of a large pony to the 

 full-erown horse. They have large branching antlers, which 

 groAV and are shed every season. 



The taking of moose is sometimes quite hazardous. The most 

 favorable time for hunting them is toward spring, when the snow 

 is deep, and vv-hen the warmth of raid-day melts the surface, and 

 the cold nights freeze a crust, v.'hich greatly embarrasses the moose 

 and deer in their flight. 



" One pleasant morning, six of us started with the intention of 

 taking deer ; we had a gun and a large dog. Fatigued, at length, 

 with several hours' travel, and meeting with no success, we con- 

 cluded to give it up, and returned to camp late in the afternoon. 

 Having been very intent in our search for game, we had taken 

 little notice of the various courses which we had traveled, and, 

 when the purpose was formed of returning, we found, much to 

 F 



