TWO MOOSE NEAR MT. RATA II DIN. 



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white nose around the island. A pretty 

 picture she made. Her white hull heeled 

 over until her washboard touched the blue 

 water, as her sharp stem cut through it. 

 Aloft were the yellow spars, hung with 

 snowy canvas, and stayed by taut rigging. 

 Surely a sailing vessel is one of the most 

 graceful creations of man. 



The water by this time was much too 

 rough for fishing. We set our mainsail, got 

 our anchors, and as she swung off, we put 

 up the jib. 



As the boat felt the full force of the wind, 

 we lay over to it, and started on our home- 

 ward way. Captain Smith, from the light- 

 house, was just outside of us, hauling his 



pots. We flattened the sheets down, and 

 made a stretch to windward, to get a mess 

 of lobsters from him. It was glorious sail- 

 ing, with just wind enough to bring out the 

 good points of a boat. The Captain's lit- 

 tle dory, danced over the waves like a duck, 

 as we rounded to, under her stern. The 

 boats lay like a pair of seagulls while the 

 captain weighed the lobsters and passed 

 them to us. We trimmed in our jib, swung 

 off before the wind and again headed for 

 the shore. With boat well washed out, and 

 lines coiled away, we lay back in dreamy 

 comfort and enjoyed the sail. Half an 

 hour's run brought us to the dock, and our 

 trip was over. 



TWO MOOSE NEAR MT. KATAHDIN. 



ELFIR. 



As September approaches, I am always 

 attacked with that fever for which the only 

 remedy — and that but temporary — is a 

 month in the woods. Two years ago, as 

 this season came around, I decided on a 

 trip to Maine. 



My previous trips had been made into 

 Washington county, but this time I decided 

 to visit the vicinity of Mt. Katahdin. I was 

 not going especially for big game, but for 

 a good time; so my old guide was engaged, 

 although he knew no more of this part of 

 the country than I did. 



On September 12 I left Boston for Nor- 

 cross, Me. At Old Town the guide joined 

 me, and on the day after reaching Norcross 

 we packed provisions for several weeks 

 into my canoe, and started up the lakes, on 

 a tour of discovery and adventure. 



Not knowing where to find fish and 

 game, we lived on " store goods " for the 

 first 2 or 3 days. Then we found a lake 

 where fish and ducks were plentiful; and 

 from that time we fared sumptuously. 



During my stay in the woods, I saw few 

 ruffed grouse. Deer signs were numerous, 

 and occasionally a deer would be seen on 

 the shore of lake or stream. The bottom 

 of one stream we ascended was all tracked 

 over by deer and moose. 



On September 22, while on this stream, 

 fishing for trout, we were surprised by a 

 bull moose, which we saw standing in the 

 edge of the timber, not over 50 yards away, 

 watching us intently. This naturally made 

 our nerves tingle. 



I had never before seen a moose in the 

 woods, and the guide had not seen one 

 since boyhood. 



A lively discussion followed, whether or 

 not to make the moose our meat. Finally, 



it was decided to let some one else have 

 him, when the law should be off. 



All this time the big animal remained 

 motionless, with the exception of his head, 

 which he moved about, trying to wind us. 

 Evidently not succeeding, he took several 

 steps in our direction, to satisfy himself by 

 a nearer view. 



As I did not desire a closer acquaintance, 

 we shouted. This turned but did not scare 

 him; for he walked leisurely toward the 

 woods. He was in sight fully 20 minutes. 



On 2 occasions deer seemed anxious to 

 make the acquaintance of the campers, 

 coming at night to the tent and snorting 

 until frightened away. 



One day, along after October 1, the be- 

 ginning of the open season, we started in 

 search of a bog I had learned of at Nor- 

 cross, which was a resort for moose. The 

 place was found about noon, and as we were 

 hot and tired we seated ourselves for a rest 

 on a hummock in the bog, 200 yards from 

 the edge of the timber. 



While resting, taking our ease and talk- 

 ing, I looked toward the woods and saw a 

 bull moose approaching, across the bog. 



There was no question now as to whether 

 we would, if we could, make him our meat. 

 It was agreed to let the moose approach as 

 near as he would, when we would fire to- 

 gether. He came within 100 yards before 

 seeing us. At the double salutation, he 

 turned and started for the woods at a lively 

 gait; nor did the arguments we brought to 

 bear stop him. 



He disappeared around a point of woods 

 projecting into the bog. We followed as 

 rapidly as possible, and soon came up to 

 him. Two more shots were fired when he 

 fell dead. 



