MOOSE HUNTING AND CALLING. 181 



Accompanied by Ed, I was walking down a faint trail 

 which led, for about a mile, beside the high banks of the 

 river. We had walked some fifteen miles, and far behind 

 us followed a buck-board waggon with our effects and canoe 

 loaded upon it. The buck-board was in charge of a small 

 Frenchman ; now and then his voice, as he argued with 

 or urged forward his horse, faintly reached us. It was our 

 intention to push on as deep into the country as possible, 

 for which reason we carried the canoe. Only an hour before 

 I had loaded my rifle on the off-chance of a shot. The day 

 was unfavourable, as a light cat-ice covered the pools and 

 our advance could be heard. 



We had arrived at a point where the trail led right over 

 a high bluff before leaving the river. The country was 

 fairly open, so that we were both keeping a good look-out. 

 As we descended the bluff I saw something move behind a 

 thick bunch of spruce about a hundred yards ahead. The 

 next moment a pair of huge horns and the large head of a 

 bull moose were thrust into sight. I saw at once that if 

 he turned he would be lost to us, as the growth in that 

 direction was close. He had evidently been taking a siesta 

 behind the spruces, and had been awakened by the sound 

 of our approaching steps grinding upon the thin ice. 



The moment my rifle covered him I pressed the trigger 

 and heard the bullet strike. The great animal sprang for- 

 ward across the trail, which was for all the world like a ride 

 in an English park, receiving a second shot as he did so. 

 He disappeared, and I turned to run to the height of the 

 knoll in order to command the river. There was no need 

 for this, as in another moment I made out the bull just as 

 he was in the act of falling. We ran up. He was not dead, 

 and indeed got to his feet and attempted to charge, an 

 effort which was cut short by a last shot in the chest. We 

 stood beside the dead giant and admired the fine palmated 

 horns, which carried twenty-two points and spread fifty- 



