MISSED CLEAN. 371 



commencing to get dusk, we swept suddenly- 

 round a sharp bend in the river, and came 

 abreast of a little open glade running back 

 between two belts of pine forest to a steep 

 ridge. I was in the bow paddling, when I 

 suddenly caught sight of what I knew were the 

 tops of a moose's horns above the bank. 



At the same instant the animal must have 

 heard the canoe approaching, for he rose to his 

 feet. Then he stood perfect^ still right in the 

 open ground and broadside on, with his head 

 turned towards us. His great white antlers 

 were spread out wide on each side of his 

 head and looked immense ! 



Oh ! could I but have photographed that 

 mighty old bull as he stood there surveying us 

 so proudly and so calmly. But there was no 

 light for a photograph, and no time either, for 

 the rapid current was carrying us fast down 

 the river. 



To change my paddle for my rifle was the 

 work of a moment, and in another instant I 

 fired, and — missed — yes, missed clean, a bull 

 moose not thirty yards from me. It seems 



