DUSKY GEORGE AND HIS COON. 123 



They walked to a large forest, not far from the house, where 

 Robbie had set a trap for a rabbit. He was looking in the trap, to 

 see if one of the little fellows was there, when he heard a noise not 

 far away. The sound was like something breaking through the 

 snow. Suddenly a large animal came in sight, panting and almost 

 tired out, for he broke through the crust at every step. Robbie was 

 frightened and ran toward home, but Scott stopped to bark at the 

 tired animal. 



Robbie had run but a little way when he heard men shouting, and 

 turned about to see what it meant. He saw three hunters with guns, 

 a little way behind the moose. They wore snow-shoes, and Avere 

 running quite fast. 



Soon the men got nearer to the moose, when the animal turned 

 aud stood up on its hind legs. If the hunters came too near he was 

 going to defend himself with his fore feet. 



While the moose was in this position Robbie saw one of the 

 men take aim with his gun. A loud report followed, and the poor 

 animal fell on the hard crust, dead. 



Robbie gave a little cry of pain, and, calling Scott, quickly ran 

 home. 



He told his uncle of the strange animal he had seen, larger than 

 a cow, with great horns, and that it had been shot by a hunter. 

 His uncle told him it was a moose. 



DUSKY GEORGE AND HIS COON. 



Mr. Wilkenson" had a colored man caUed Dusky George. One 

 day he sent him to the field behind the mill to dig some potatoes. 

 George started with the hoe over his shoulder and the basket swing- 

 ing on it. Just before he reached the field he saw something 

 moving in the grass. He said to himself, " That's a woodchuck, 

 I wish I had my dog Sam." 



