THE MOOSE. 65 



which, barking close at their heels, yet always keeping out 

 of harm's way, cause them constantly to stop and charge. 



Though the hunter's broad snow-shoes bear him lightly 

 on the glistening surface, while the flying Moose sinks 

 to the knee at every step, it holds its own, and keeps 

 the lead in a manner which, considering its awkward 

 gait, appears incredible, and is not to be overtaken with- 

 out a trial of strength and endurance which none but 

 the robust need attempt. 



Keeping to leeward of the tracks and cutting off all 

 angles possible, the intervening distance is gradually 

 lessened, and the excited hunters, straining every nerve, 

 gain sensibly on their prize. Again, however, it struggles 

 with more desperate energy through the crusted snow, its 

 tracks stained with the blood that flows from its lacerated 

 fetlocks, and once more regains the advantage. Strong 

 thews, sound wind, and determined endurance, however, 

 know no defeat, and the chase leads on and on, till at 

 length the furious animal, with heaving flanks and 

 distended nostrils, is brought to bay; or perhaps even 

 till the descending sun crimsons the western horizon, 

 and the quickly succeeding shades of night put an end 

 to the pursuit till the morrow. With a two-year-old 

 bull the latter is the more frequent occurrence of the 

 two, as they have much greater powers of endurance than 

 the others, but the old males, though more easily run 



V 



