134 



THE AMERICAN MOOSE 



The Indian system of warfare, a system in which 

 stealth and the ambuscade were the chief char- 

 acteristics, was cultivated in his pursuit of deer 

 and moose. The most skillful hunter, furthermore, 

 was usually the best warrior when the game 

 trail was abandoned for the warpath. 



Against the moose the Indian in the open woods 

 found his bow and arrows comparatively ineffec- 

 tive. Often, however, the moose would be found 

 in the water, or would be driven into the water, 

 and then from canoes the Indians could attack 

 him in force at close quarters. It would have 

 been a battle worth watching. There was usually 

 a dead moose at the end of the contest. These 

 encounters often resulted in a few wrecked canoes 

 and broken Indian bones, no doubt, but these 

 incidents would be forgotten at the festive "taba- 

 gie" which would be held next day. 



Whole villages joined in these drives. The 

 best canoemen among the savages would form a 

 crescent by their canoes on some lake, each end of 

 the line touching the shore. Others, with dogs, 

 would circle a wide stretch of territory, and 

 drive the game into the lake. The men in the 

 canoes would be armed with various weapons, 

 prepared to dispatch the animals as they sought 



