44 BIG GAME OF NOETH AMERICA. 



of the rifle; but the other struggled on, bleeding, snorting, 

 from a deadly shot through the lungs. I fired four shots 

 into him before he fell. He had grown frenzied, rigid, and 

 would not fall till I approached to within twenty feet and 

 shot him just back of the ear. He plunged forward then, 

 and buried himself in the snow. 



I stood above the fallen monarch, stupid from exhaus- 

 tion, and gave no further thought to the animal that I sup- 

 posed lay dead four or five rods back.. Suddenly I heard a 

 loud snort and felt a rush from behind. As I dodged to 

 one side, the Moose I had thought dead charged upon me 

 and fairly buried me in the snow. His rush carried him 

 past me, but he turned and charged again before I recovered 

 sufficiently to shoot; but his broken shoulder failed him 

 when he turned, and he tumbled down-hill so that he missed 

 me when he charged the next time. As he came toward 

 me again, his eyes were green and his body was all shaggy 

 with bristles. I had, however, recovered my position and 

 my nerve. My aim was true, and I placed a bullet fairly 

 between his eyes. 



Although the snow was seven feet deep, and this Moose, 

 had a broken shoulder, it was more good fortune than any 

 advantage I had that saved me from being cut to pieces by 

 his feet. I am satisfied that no man can safely battle with 

 a Western Moose, in any depth of snow, with any weapon 

 other than a rifle, and a good one at that. 



These Moose were both bulls. The smaller one had shed 

 his antlers, but both were still in good condition, and our 

 larder was enriched with a thousand pounds of the finest 

 venison that the Rocky Mountains afford. 



