Moose Calling. 1 29 



so I splashed him, tiH in his fury he waded out 

 deeper and deeper, to strike the exasperating canoe 

 with his antlers. When he would follow no further, 

 I swung the canoe suddenly, and headed for the 

 opening at a racing stroke. I had a fair start before 

 he understood the trick ; but I never turned to see 

 how he made the bank and circled the little bay. 

 The splash and plunge of hoofs was fearfully close 

 behind me as the canoe shot through the opening ; 

 and as the little bark swung round on the open waters 

 of the lake, for a final splash and flourish of the paddle, 

 and a yell or two of derision, there stood the bull in 

 the inlet, still thrashing his antlers and gritting his 

 teeth ; and there I left him. 



The season of calling is a short one, beginning 

 early in September and lasting till the middle of 

 October. Occasionally a bull will answer as late as 

 November, but this is unusual. In this season a per- 

 fectly still night is perhaps the first recjuisite. The 

 bull, when he hears the call, will often approach to 

 within a hundred yards without making a sound. It 

 is simply wonderful how still the great brute can be 

 as he moves slowly through the woods. Then he 

 makes a wide circuit till he has gone completely 

 round the spot where he heard the call ; and if there 

 is the slightest breeze blowins: he scents the danofer, 

 and is off on the instant. On a still night his big 



