The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-04-01

to descent, We sat down on The snow
shoes, holding them together behind, and
skating along with great velocity, often
meeting some obstruction IN the way and
rolling over and over TO the bottom; there
We lay buried in the snow, till, with ludi-
crous difficulty we struggled out again. =
After about eighteen miles journey, we
struck OIL another frozen river; the guide
turned down its bed abou. hundred yards
10 the west, then threw his burthen aside,
and told US We were at the place OF stop
ping that night. and within two miles Of the
'Ravage, or Moose yard Of which we were
in search.
These animals sometimes remain in the
same 'ravage' for weeks together, ill they
have completely barred the trees Of bark and
young branches, and then only move away
far enough to obtain fresh supply; from
this lazy life they become very fat at this
time Of the year. Our cabin was formed,
and the evening passed much as the prece-
ding one. but that the cold was not so Sc
we're. Having worn of the novelty Of the
situation, we composed ourselves quietly 10
read for some time. and after that slept very
soundly. ......... ......
The morning was close and Touring. and
the snow began to fall thickly when we
started for the 'ravage, with four Of the In
dians, and all the dogs the fresh-falling
snow on our snow shoes made the walking
very heavy; it was also shaken down upon
us from the branches above, when we hap
pened TO touch them, and, soon melting.
wetted US. The temperature being unusu-
ally high that day, in short time the locks
Of our guns were the only things dry about
us. The excitement, however, kept us
warm, for we saw occasionally the deep
track Of the Moose in the snow, and the
marks Of their teeth on the bark and
branches Of the trees. These symptoms
became more apparent as We approached
the bottom OF high steep hill; the dog
. were sent on ahead, and, in few minutes
all gave tongue furiously in every variety o
currish yelp. By this time the snow had
ceased falling, and we were able to SET
some distance in front. .. ....
II We pressed on rapidly over the brow o
, the hill, in the direction Of the dogs, AM
! came Upon the fresh track Of several Moose
In my eagerness to get forward, ] stumbled
repeatedly, trpped by the abominable snow
: shoes, and had great difficulty in keeping
1 up with the Indians, who though also VIC
D lently excited, went on quite at their ease
!. The dogs were at stand still; and, as w
q emerged from thick part of the wood, W
saw them surrounding three large Moose
barking viciously, but not daring to ap
e proach within reach Of their hoois or AM
: lers. When the deer saw us, they bolte
d away, plunging heavily through the dee
+ snow, slowly and with great difficulty; a
every step sinking to the shoulder, the cur
still at their heels as near as they coul
venture. They all broke in different drec
i tons; the captain pursued one, | another
d and one Of the Indians the third; at FIR:
v they beat US in speed for few hundre
n yards mine kept stoutly on; but his uac
0 became wider and more irregular, and lars
e drops Of blood on the pure fresh snow show
g ed that the poor animal was wounded b
T the hard icy crust OF the old fall We wei
a pressing down hill through very thick bush
e and could not see him, but his painting an
!. crashing through the underwood were pair
r, ly heard. In several places the snow va
IS deeply ploughed up, where he had falle
d from exhaustion, but again struggled ga
h lantly out, and made another effort for If,
+ He was noble brute, standing at lea
l. seven feet high; his large dark eye was f,
e ed, fancied almost imploringly upon m,
;, as approached. He made no further e
/ fort to escape or resist: fired and the ba
:, struck him in the chest. The wound rou
ed him; Infatuated by the pain, he raise
e his huge bulk out Of the snow, and plunge
n towards ME. Had tried to run away, Ii
IT snow shoes would have tripped me up TO
h certainty, so thought it wiser TO stand still
e bis strength was plainly failing, and ! kne
e he could not reach me. | fired the secon
e barrel. he stopped, and staggered, stretche
Is out his neck, the blood gushed in a streal
it from his mouth, his tongue protruded, the
e slowly, as if lying down to rest, he fell ov'
e into the snow. The dogs would not "
IS touch him, nor would even the Indian
< they said that this was tbe most dangero,
T. time-he might struggle yet so We watcI
ed cautiously till the large dark eye gre
1t dim and glazed, and the sinewy limbs wei
e stiaened out in death; then We approache
e and stood over our fallen foe-Hocheiag g,