TREED BY A MOOSE. 
33 
half an hour old, for the water was still oozing into it 
from the sides. 
Should he go on ? The ambition of Robert's life just 
now was to shoot a grizzly, but he knew the danger to a 
single hunter if he should meet one of these terrible 
brutes alone. 
It flashed across the boy's mind at the same moment 
that the trail he was following was very closely con- 
nected with that peculiar track. It was no hunter's at 
all. It was one of the famous " bear-roads," for which 
the great Northwest is noted, and which thread the 
densest forests in every direction. 
Only six charges in that rifle ! But the temptation 
was too great. Robert concluded at least to follow the 
path cautiously for a short distance. Perhaps he could 
come upon his shaggy game unexpectedly. Perhaps he 
could stalk him ! 
With these thoughts passing swiftly through his mind, 
he examined the lock of his rifle carefully, assured him- 
self that the cartridges were in place, and, stooping over 
like an old hunter, advanced softly along the trail. 
At every slightest sound in the forest his heart gave an 
answering thump ; but no bear appeared. He was 
beginning to think of turning back toward the camp, 
when a curious noise fell upon his ears. It was a succes- 
sion of dull blows, like that of a farmer driving a stake 
into the ground. 
A sudden turn of the path brought him unexpectedly 
