THE MOOSE, OR ELK. £1 



may be described as a similar mode of hunting to stalking. 



The ground we select is among the " barrens " before described. 



Itt is strewed with dead trees in all directions, amid which 



briars and bushes have grown up, and conceal their sharp, 



broken limbs, and the rough granite rocks scattered in all 



directions. Here, collecting wood for burning, we form our 



C&mp, and sit round the blazing fire, on which a well-tilled 



frying-pan is hissing, while we are covered by our blankets to 



pirotect ourselves from the pattering rain-drops. Our suppers 



over, we stretch ourselves for repose, and gradually fall asleep, 



as the snapping of the logs on the fire, the pattering of the 



rain, and the hootings of the owls in the distant forest become 



Leiss and less distinct. Our Indian brings us notice in the 



morning that two moose have passed close to the camp dur- 



img the night. However, in spite of the plaintive call from 



the treacherous bark trumpet, they will not approach, having 



been forewarned of danger by the smell of our camp-fire. 



We make our way amid the bushes, already leafless, except 



that here and there are seen bunches of dwarf maples with a 



few scarlet leaves of autumn still clinging to them. Presently 



our companion whispers, "Down — sink down! slow — like 



me!" A magnificent bull appears about five hundred yards 



off. The wind is blowing from him to us. The Indian utters 



the usual call ; but the moose does not answer, having already 



a companion close at hand. Presently he lies down in the 



bushes, and we worm ourselves slowly and laboriously towards 



the edge of the alder swamp. Gently lowering ourselves into 



the swamp, we creep noiselessly through the dense bushes, 



their thick foliage closing over our heads. It is an anxious 



moment! — the slightest snapping of a bough, the knocking of 



a srun-barrel against a stem, and the game is off. "We must 



