THE MOOSE OF MINNESOTA 
silence remained unbroken. Again he sent 
forth the call. But this time returned with 
the echo the unmistakable answer of a bull 
moose—followed almost instantly, so closely, 
in fact, that the echoes mingled, by the call 
of a second bull from the other end of the 
lake. My companion repeated the call. 
Then from the crest of the hill at our back 
came rattling, cracking, snapping sounds 
ee hg es on = 

3 “en Kt. = 4 
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STILL-HUNTERS STARTING OUT THE DAY BEFORE THE OPENING OF THE 
447 
Such a smashing and clanging as the metal- 
like antlers knocked and banged together 
while they struggled like monster demons 
in their frightful rage! They seemed quite 
evenly matched; first one would give ground, 
then the other. Some bushes partly ob- 
structed our view, so we pushed out into 
the lake—unfortunately putting ourselves 
directly in the wind. At once there was a 

SP? Es Pe ee 
SEASON 
of a moose passing above us. He had heard 
the challenge of the other moose and was 
bent on war. Slipping into our ‘canoe we 
sped along in the shadow of the bank till we 
reached a sandbar some hundred yards 
distant. We were anxious to draw. their 
attention to this point, that we might see 
the battle. My companion brought the 
horn again into play, giving, as he called it, 
“the soft, tender, seductive note of the cow.” 
At once there was a crash of brush and a 
big bull broke into the open, fifty yards 
from. us. He looked a monster of his kind 
as he stood there in his massive dignity— 
ardent passion, unwavering courage, show- 
ing in every curve of his gigantic bulk. In 
maddening suspense, he bellowed forth an- 
other challenge, then stiffened into im- 
mobility, for on the instant came the answer 
of his rival. Then burst into view another 
bull about forty feet from the first. There 
were loud snorting, a splashing of mud, a 
crash of antlers, and they were together. 
cessation of hostilities as the two bulls 
became conscious of the common danger. 
They stood for an instant with their antlers 
locked. Slowly raising their heads they 
looked at us, then turned and faded into 
the dark woods. After a time we tried to 
draw them again, but to no avail. Supreme 
silence reigned in the forest the balance of 
the night. 
Another enchanting pastime, so often 
told of, is ‘‘jacking,” provided one leaves 
the firearms at camp, so asnot to be tempted. 
Such a night is worth spending, for many 
pretty sights will one see. I have started 
out late in'the evening, when the obscurity of 
a moonless night enveloped all, with only 
the stars sprinkling a faint light to guide our 
course. Skirting the shore, I have drifted 
along until a splashing gave warning of an 
animal. When the jack was opened a 
moose would be revealed, his muzzle thrust 
forward, his nostrils expanded to catch the 
scent of this strange apparition. Then, as 
