Butte record., 1854-04-08
NUMBER 22

ana wheeling suddenly round, stood fac
ing me. His huge antlers were thrown
back until they touched his withers; his
maine stood erect all the hair upon his
body seemed to bristle forward and hi.
whole attitude was one of rage and de-
fance he was altogether as Formidable
looking an enemy as 1t had ever been my
lot to encounter.
My first thought, ON getting ne2g
enough, was to raise my rife and fire,
which | did, | aimed for his chest, that
was fair before me but | shot wide, part
ly because the sun at the moment flashed
in my eyes as I glanced along the barrel,
and partly because my fingers were
numbed with cold I hit the moose,
however, but in part that was not NOR
tain the shoulder. The shot enraged
him, and without waiting for me to reload
he dashed madly forward, and towards
me; a few plunges brought him up, and
l had no resource than to get behind a
tree. Fortunately, there were some
large pines in the neighborhood, and be-
hind one Of these | took shelter-not,
however, before the enraged animal had
almost impaled me upon his antlers.-
As | slipped behind the trunk, he was
following me so close that his horns came
in contact with the tree. causing it 10
vibrate by the terrific shock He himself
drew back pace or two, and then stop
ped and stood fast, cycling the tree with
sullen rage; his eyes glared, and his long
stiff hair seemed to quiver as he threat
ened In the hope that he would allow
me time, [ again bethought me of reload
ing my gun. What was my chagrin to
find that had not grain of powder about
me- Ny friend and I had started with
bat one powder flask, and that he had
carried with him. Ny gun was as use
less as a bar of iron. What was to be
done' | dared not approach the bull
with my knife; my life would not have
been worth five minutes purchase. His
horns and great sharp hoofs were veap-
ons superior to mine. He might throw
me down at the frst onset, gore me to
death, or trample me in the snow. l
dared not risk such an encounter. Af-
ter rejecting for some time, I con-
ciuded that it would be wisest for me to
leave the moose where he was, and take
the back track without him. But how
was | to get away from the spot' Twas
still behind the tree, and the enraged
bull was within three feet of it on the
other side, without showing any symp-
toms Of retiring. Should | step either
to one side or the other, he would launch
himself upon me. and the result would
De nay certain destruction. I now began
to perceive that [ was in fix-regular-
ly freed. in fact and the knowledge was
anything but cheering. I did not know
how long I might be kept so; perhaps
the moose might not leave me at all, or
until hunger had done its work. The
wound I had given him had certainly
rendered him desperate and vengeful,
and he appeared as if determined to pro-
tract the seige indefinitely
After remaining nearly an hour in this
situation. | began to grow angry and i'm
patient. l had shouted to frighten the
bull, but to no purpose had shouted.
and at the top of my voice, in hopes l
might be heard by my friend but there
was no response except the echoes Of
my own voice, borne hoarsely through
the aisles of the winter forest I grew
impatient of my odd captivity, and de-
termined to stand it no longer
On stealing glance behind me, L per-
ceiyed tree as large as the one which
sheltered me. | resolved to make for
/ that one, as it would at least not render
my situation worse should I reach it in
safety. This | effected, but not with
out having my speed put to the test, for
the moose followed so close as almost to
touch me with his brow-antlers. Once
behind this new tree, was no better of
Than before, except it brought me some
twenty PAGES nearer home. The moose
still stood in front of me only few feet
distant, and threatening as fercely es
ever
After waiting some minutes for ms
breath, selected a third tree in the
right direction, and made for it in
similar manner, the moose followed as
before. Another rest and another run
brought me behind fresh tree, and an
other and another, until | must have
made full mile through the woods, still