STILL-HUNTING 



117 



straight course. Suddenly, less than a quarter 

 of a mile beyond where the tracks crossed, off at 

 one side, sixty yards away, could be seen the body 

 of a moose, standing. A little inspection showed 

 that it was a bull, and that the head would be a 

 prize worth winning. A shot was fired, and the 

 moose disappeared, while the hunter ran forward 

 to be ready to fire again if he again came in sight 

 of his victim. A few yards, and a second shot was 

 fired; a few more, and a third. 



The next run forward brought into view an 

 unexpected spectacle. On the ground lay a bull 

 dead; nineteen yards beyond stood another bull 

 mortally wounded and unable to travel, while 

 fifty yards farther off stood a cow, a puzzled 

 spectator of the tragedy. The second bull dropped 

 in his tracks without another shot. The cow 

 stood for two or three minutes while a surprised 

 and disgusted sportsman discussed the unusual 

 event with an equally surprised guide. If there 

 had been a single moose down, bearing on his 

 head either pair of antlers, the sportsman would 

 have been amply satisfied. 



The lesson which this episode teaches is that the 

 hunter should exercise all the care that is possible 

 — it may still be insufficient. . . . The legal bag 

 limit was one bull moose. . . , 



