218 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



After enjoying my victory, and meditating for a short time on 

 the law of compensation and the result of accidental circum- 

 stances, T started in search of camp once more. 



Hoping that my companions were out looking- for me, I 

 commenced shouting 1 as loudly as I could, but no responsive 

 voice came hack except the echoes of the forest. Seeing- I 

 could do nothing- in that way, I tried firing- the rifle, and 

 though every tree and shrub seemed to carry its detonations 

 afar, I listened in vain for the welcome answer. After travel- 

 ling, shouting, and firing for three hours, and trying to retrace 

 my footsteps, a feat which was beyond my power, owing to 

 the various directions in which they led, I sat down near a 

 small lake, as I was somewhat faint from hunger, and I 

 wanted to think out, if possible, how I could extricate myself 

 from the perilous situation in which I was placed. After a 

 short rest, and a delightful drink of water, which revived me 

 very much, I commenced exploring the lake to see if I could 

 find a canoe upon it, or any indications that it was visited by 

 man, even at a remote period. My explorations were futile, 

 however, for I did not find a vestige of a human being in any 

 direction. Thoroughly disheartened, I sat down once more to 

 indulge in another painful meditation, and while musing on 

 my disagreeable situation my heart gave a tremendous bound, 

 for I heard afar o(f the call of the moose, and knowing it did 

 not cry in the day time, I felt it was the signal of my com- 

 panions. Noting carefully whence the sound came for woods, 

 owing to their echoing character, are often deceptive I started 

 towards it at a brisk pace, and answered it occasionally by a 

 loud halloo, and after walking about half an hour had the 

 satisfaction of hearing it closer to me. I then commenced 

 firing my rifle as I advanced, and, in a short time, heard an 

 answering shot. This was a most delightful sensation, and 

 with an elastic step I strode through the forest, and in twenty 

 minutes after, guided by shouts and rille reports, I found 

 myself shaking hands with my friends. 



A short conversation informed me that I had wandered over 

 ten miles from camp, and that if I had not moved in a circle 

 I would probably have been irretrievably lost in the unknown 



