TRAITS AND HABITS OF THE MOOSE 77 



of conversation beside the evening fire, the author 

 has sought to learn the experience of guides and 

 sportsmen in this and similar matters. Once, 

 years ago, on the head-waters of the Aroostook 

 River, the after-supper subject of discussion was 

 the moose as a dangerous antagonist of man. A 

 number of guides and others took part in the 

 conversation, but none had ever been attacked. 

 WiUiam Atkins was, as usual, silent. Atkins 

 had had more experience in moose hunting than 

 anyone else in camp, so I sought to draw him 

 out. 



''How is it, William?" I asked. "What do you 

 know about moose attacking men?'* 



''Well," drawled Atkins, "I expect IVe been 

 attacked by moose as many times as most anyone." 



Atkins smoked busily for a minute or two, and 

 we had to wait for the interesting details of his 

 hair-breadth escapes. Meanwhile the smile which 

 played around the corners of his mouth might mean 

 most anything. 



" Lots o' times, " said Atkins finally, " IVe wished 

 that the moose would get to chasin' after me, 

 instead o' leavin' me to chase forever after them. 

 But IVe never yet seen a moose that wasn't 

 mighty glad if he had a chance to run away. 

 There's only one dangerous animal in the woods, '* 



