IN THE FAR WEST. 215 



brought us into a charming coppice of foliaceous trees of 

 several varieties, and as it had the appearance of being- a 

 favourite feeding resort of the moose we decided to halt there 

 and test our luck. It was also recommended to us by the 

 density of the coniferous forest in front, from which issued at 

 intervals the hideous roars and nightmarish grunts of the 

 animals. Having satisfied ourselves about the advantage of the 

 copse as a cover, I went to one end, and my companion to ano- 

 ther, while the Indian took up his quarters in a tree-top about 

 three hundred yards behind, and nearly equidistant from us. 



When he had established himself comfortably he commenced 

 his deer lay of love, and grunted and roared out his erotic 

 strains for two hours with a perseverance and artistic finish 

 most highly commendable ; but neither cautious veteran nor 

 impulsive young bull came within rifle range, although they 

 answered him vigorously several times from various directions. 

 Thinking that the animals might have winded me, and there- 

 fore kept away, I threw up a leaf and saw from its course 

 that I was to the leeward of the majority of the vocalists who 

 had answered the call, so I decided that being winded was not 

 the cause of their non-appearance. As the vigil was becoming 

 wearisome, and I was getting sleepy, it being past midnight, 

 and the moose seemed indifferent to the red man's persistent 

 appeals, I concluded to start for camp ; but before I had made 

 up my mind to move, a sturdy young bull came dashing 

 through the forest, and on coming into an open spot, stopped 

 suddenly, bent his long head forward to catch the exact 

 direction of the sweet strains, and commenced snifling the air, 

 as if trying to detect the presence of a foe. 



He was scarcely forty yards from me, and feeling rather 

 nervous about him I fired just as he attempted to advance, 

 but I only succeeded in breaking one of his fore-legs. When 

 he recovered from the shock and surprise he bolted at once for 

 the heavy forest, and as I did not want to lose him I followed 

 in hot pursuit. I found this hard work, however, as I could 

 only catch a glimpse of him occasionally, and the only real 

 guide I had to follow his course was the crashing of the boughs 

 and bushes. Realizing 1 the truth of the old adaire that a stern 



