198 



RECREATION 



Almost to the top, but they are in sight ; 

 they stop, a puff of smoke, a report, and 

 something zipped viciously through the 

 bushes at my heels. It is the death-dealing 

 tube which they are employing, but for 

 some reason it caused me no harm. An- 

 other missile strikes close behind me; now 

 I am over the ridge, and, for the moment, 

 safe. How thankful I am to see that 

 growth of cedars and spruces only a little 

 way below ! Can I reach its protecting 

 shade while my pursuers are mounting this 

 hill? 



I struggle toward it. If only I had the 

 fleetness which until now I have always 

 possessed, how easily it could be done. Oh ! 

 another report, and a streak of fire passed 

 through one of my hind legs. It is use- 

 less ; it refuses to perform its duties ! 

 What excruciating pain it causes when I 

 try to bear my weight' on it! 



The green woods are reached, but the 

 end is near ! I will face my tormentors, 

 and, whatever fate has in store for me, 

 will strive to give a good account of my- 

 self, notwithstanding how unequal I know 

 the contest to be. They draw near and 

 see that I await them. What causes them 

 to separate and come on me from different 

 directions ? Horrors ! another shot, and 

 both hind legs are now hopelessly crippled ! 

 I can only move with the greatest agony 

 by dragging them behind. What do they 

 say? One is to watch me, while the other 

 goes back and sends a telegram for their 

 employer to come? Will- return with him 

 in 4 or 5 days? Merciful heavens! am I 

 to be kept in this torture during that pe- 

 riod ! Have they no hearts! Have they 

 no comprehension of the suffering I en-, 

 dure ! Did any animal other than man 

 ever exist that could be guilty of such 

 damnable conduct ! 



I am alone. My watcher, soon after the 

 departure of his partner, built for himself 

 not far away a brush leanto, and has occu- 

 pied it while his fellow conspirator is gone. 

 It has snowed almost steadily a day and a 

 night ; snow which would have saved me 

 had it fallen before I was so completely 

 disabled. Now, alas, it comes too late ! 

 My pain is constant, but a plan for speedy 

 liberation has come to me, and I shall put 

 it into execution when the night becomes a 



little darker. 'Tis hard to leave this world 

 which has been usually so replete with 

 pleasures and happy pursuits, but I am 

 doomed, and now I can only hope to 

 shorten this awful agony. 



Never again shall I welcome the sun 

 above the Eastern hills, never again enjoy 

 the companionship of my dear comrades ! 

 Never again shall I send out ringing chal- 

 lenge that the lists are open and a cham- 

 pion awaits ! To-morrow, if all goes well, 

 this form will be stiffening in the snow, its 

 life and energies departed, of interest only 

 to the scavengers of the woods. 



What shafts of pain cut me when I drag 

 myself forward ; but I must repress all 

 moans and make no sound lest my plan 

 miscarry. I can see the dastard's form re- 

 cumbent near his fire, but he hears me not. 

 I draw near and am almost on him, when 

 my challenge, given for the last time, brings 

 him to his knees, quaking with sudden 

 fear. One more effort, his rifle leaps to his 

 shoulder, a stream of fire spurts forth. 

 Through my heart ! Thank God ! 



The next night when the stage deposited 

 its load of passengers and mail at Eustis, 

 one of the former greeted a bystander on 

 the steps of the hotel with : 



"Well, I received your telegram, Will, 

 that the moose was cornered, and took the 

 first train. Where is he, and what kind 

 of a head has he?" 



"He's an old fellow," Will explained, 

 "with a handsome head. One good enough 

 for any body. He's over near Rock pond, 

 and Dave is watching him. I can get to 

 him in a day's tramp, but you'll probably 

 want to rest a night on the way." 



So talking they passed into the cheer 

 of the office, and were busily disposing of 

 the traveler's outer wraps and baggage, 

 when the door was flung back and a new- 

 comer stood inside the .threshold, blinking 

 in the sudden glare of the lamps. 



"Hello, Dave," Will exclaimed. "What 

 brings you out here?" 



"Well," Dave answered, "that blank bull 

 moose came for me while I was asleep, and 

 when I got through stopping him, he didn't 

 need any watching, so I lit out. Sorry to 

 disappoint you, Mr. Sport, but your game 

 is dead." 



