THE MOOSE. 57 



trees, over prostrate trunks, and among rotten boughs, 

 where a chance blow from his rifle-barrel, or a careless 

 step on an unnoticed stick, while he is eagerly noting the 

 wind, the ground, the " sign," and fifty other essential 

 points, may ruin in an instant results achieved only by 

 hours of toil and exertion. 



Nor are the feeding herd and watchful bull the only 

 objects of his cautious regard. He must pay attention to 

 the smallest birds and animals in their vicinity with equal 

 care ; for a chipmunk scampering through the dry leaves, 

 or a chattering jay startled by his too sudden appearance 

 or rapid advance, will probably scare away a whole herd, 

 or excite such a degree of suspicion and alertness that 

 further approach is a matter of doubly increased diffi- 

 culty. These lesser inhabitants of the covert, how- 

 ever, often afford information of the greatest value to 

 the practised hunter. Posted on a run, or crouched 

 in his cache of green boughs, silent and alone, he knows 

 that the bird darting suddenly from the thicket, or 

 the squirrel abruptly arrested in his gambols, announces 

 the unseen approach of the wished-for deer. The ex- 

 perienced in woodcraft discovers at every step signs to 

 him as plain as day, where others see only accident or 

 the merest trifles; he follows tracks invisible to unaccus- 

 tomed eyes, with a sort of instinct ; and pushes on with 

 equal speed and certainty over dead leaves, elastic moss. 



