214 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
stration—whether he heard or smelt them—I cannot be ex¬ 
pected to know; but since my rambles with the Indians, I can 
believe almost any tale of their extraordinary sagacity in dis¬ 
covering objects at a distance, tracking, &c., &c. The bank 
on which we were reposing, was a small peninsula, jutting into 
the river. Between us and^he Moose, there was a thick clump 
of alders which reached to the water’s edge; but beyond them 
the bank was clear some distance down, so that it was impossi¬ 
ble to get within range of the Moose from the land. A council 
was held, when Sabatisie proposed we should carry the canoes 
a short distance up the stream, embark, and coming rapidly 
down the river, dash round the point, and we might be on the 
game before they could gain the woods. This plan was quick¬ 
ly adopted. We embarked about two hundred yards up the 
stream. My rifle was half up, my thumb on the hammer, and 
my heart beating with anxiety, when we dashed round the 
point with the rapidity of a hawk pouncing on its prey. I scan¬ 
ned the broad surface of the stream—but, alas ! the Moose were 
not visible. In silence and disappointment we glided quietly 
some distance down the rapid, and had given up all hopes of 
the Moose, when a cheery cry from Howard told me he had 
the game in view, and in a few seconds I got sight of their 
enormous antlers. The Moose were making the best of their 
way down the stream, and so swift was their pace that I suppo¬ 
sed it useless to attempt pursuit; but not so the Indians. The 
river in this part was tortuous, and the rocky and abrupt banks 
were bounded by tall perpendicular cliffs. Sabatisie, grasping 
his pole more firmly, and keeping time with foot and hand, sent 
the light hark spinning through, or more properly over, the 
rapid torrent: she actually seemed to fly from wave to wave. 
Casting my glance back, I saw that Adella had no idea of 
being beaten in the chase; and though the torrent was at 
this point foaming against sharp rocks, the gallant young 
Indian, instead of following the regular course of the stream, 
dashed directly across, and by that manoeuvre placed his canoe 
some distance in advance of ours. For an instant, after per- 
