104 • Field and Forest Rambles. 



now?" It was the case, however, for although appointed 

 conservators of the moose by the magistrate of the district, 

 they had travelled upwards of fourteen miles in order 

 to secure three mooses, which had been seen for 

 some time within a short distance of our camp, and 

 having observed us pass their settlement they imagined we 

 had heard of the deer, and were hurrying to the spot. My 

 guide, already disposed to consider me absurdly scrupulous 

 as regards the two points on which I utterly dissented from 

 him, with reference to the mode and time he selected for 

 hunting, became, now that the poachers arrived, more en- 

 couraged than before, so, after some hesitation, I promised to; 

 accompany the party, but only as a spectator. Accordingly 

 on the following morning all sallied forth on snow shoes, and 

 dispersed over the forest in quest of footprints, which were 

 soon discovered, when men and dogs followed them up as 

 fast as the nature of the ground would permit. On looking 

 closely at the tracks I found that three mooses had passed only 

 a few days previously, and, as usual, in " single file," treading 

 as near as possible in each others footsteps. " Our start " was, 

 assuredly, a strange one ; the uncouth, bearded backwoodsmen 

 in fur caps, and dressed in grey homespun, looked perfectly 

 equal to the occasion, whilst ten or a dozen dogs, picked up 

 at various farms on the way, presented a heterogeneous 

 collection of mongrels, which barked and yelped around us 

 in perfect ignorance of the work they were about to engage 

 in, save a large-boned bull-mastiff, which, we were informed 

 seldom missed his hold of the muzzle of the animal. Each 

 of the so-called wardens carried a gun and axe, whilst my 

 henchman stuck to his faithful weapon, and laughingly re- 

 marked to a brawny blacksmith that however much the latter 

 might trust to a musket, it was his belief that if he did not in 

 the excitement of the moment either shoot himself or a neigh- 

 bour he would most assuredly miss his mark, and we shall see 

 anon that this surmise was not far from proving correct. Having 



