44 RECENT HUNTING TRIPS. 



the forest to intercept our quarry, and heard it 

 give two or three low grunts. Then its dark 

 form came dimh^ into sight amongst the trees 

 wliich grew ver}- close together. It was not 

 more than lift}^ yards off, but the stems of the 

 trees hid it to such an extent, that, moving as 

 it was, I should probably have missed it and 

 hit a tree had I fired hurriedlv. 



As George and I had halted suddenlv on the 

 instant when the moose first became visible 

 to us, we were not hidden from it behind the 

 stems of trees, but we stood perfectly still, and 

 the doomed animal never turned its head 

 towards us nor seemed in the least suspicious 

 of danger, but came steadily forward. It had 

 none of that appearance of alertness or timidit.y 

 usually noticeable in wild animals in countries 

 where they are much hunted by man or 

 constantly preyed uj)on by carnivorous beasts. 



The bull had now changed its course, and 

 was advancing in a line that, had it kept, would 

 have brought it past us ahnost broadside on at 

 a distance of not more than thirty yards. I was 

 afraid, however, to wait any longer, lest an 



