Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-27

pipe by the camp fire, after he and Phin had
removed the blankets and other needful arti-
cles from the boat to the shanty, and seating
himself to prepare the jack, chow them tree
loads squawk! They're queer things, Mr.
Smith. You can't tell, half the time, where
the noise they makes comes from. You may
be loolln' right at the critters, that is, eff you
look sharp, Tor IFS impossible Almost TO see
m; and there's another thing they look just
like big wart on Il limb, or spot O. moss or
a knob on the bark, as mnch as one wild pig.
cons like another. But as | was sayin', eff so
be you look right at 'em, the squirkn' they
make don't seem to come from them, but some
other place"
The air rang with the hollow notes the lit
tie MINISTRIES piped, while the deep gulp, or
rather smothered roar, OF bulltrog now and
then sounded, which seemed to jar the log it
came from.
All was now ready for our nighthunt after
the moose hoped for, Notwithstanding honest
Leo's disappointment, and we embarked.
he jack, IN the intense, quiet darkness,
shed bright light on all objects within its
range.
Phin managed the paddle with the same
noiSeless skill | had so often admired, while
Harvey sat under the jack, in an attitude of
intense watchulness, with his double. barreled
rifle on his knees. Watch, to prevent mis-
takes, had been chained TO post of the shan
ty.
On the little Bluebird stole, close TO the
shore.
Once or twice Harvey lifted warning hand,
or motloned, but after moments gazing, or
bend of his ear aside, he relapsed again into
his passive attitude.
"Ill tell ye what It's, Mr.. Smith !'' at last
he SAID, but III low whisper, "old Leo bleeve
has skeered all the moose off, and deer, too
We've bin most half round the lake, and here's
the clear part o the water, and nothin' seen or
heard. But we may hev luck yet, after gittn'
past this bank. a leetle cluster to the edge,
Phinl'
We passed through the clear space, struck
the pads again, and went rustling on.
Opposite, l saw the camp fire like a red
speck on the backness, but it was soon lost.
We had now reached the inner side of the
point or bluff, near our starting point Sud
denly We heard a padding in the water. Har.
vey thrust his head forward a quick, deep
snort sounded; he motioned to the right, then
to the left, the boat obeying closely then came
the click of the gunlocks
AT the same time l saw two large orbs of
pallid flame, and the darkness gathered around
them into mass which rose higher and high.
er, and doomed nearer, till huge black hulk
stood before the jack, and hanging over it a
large head, with blazing eye balls, surmounted
by what appeared to be an enormous half cir
Gle
Harvey gave quick backward gesture, the
boat drew to the rear about Il rod, and then
two sharp reports rang, so close together as TO
be nearly blended. A violent splashing fol-
lowed, with several terrific snorts, and thick
heavy blows of breath, and L heard Harvey
exclaim
Hes got it, he's down! that's a dead
moose up with the boat, Phin, whipping out
his wood knife; "but slow, slow they're an
awful critter il they're unly wounded. | rath.
er hev an idee, though he's got enough ont"
The boat glided cautiously up the mass did
not stir, and Harvey, bending low, made a
quick motion with his knife
"Dead as q footed fisher" said Harvey with
an cXultan @iAugh, "and his throat cut to boot.
Now for gittin m round the PINT to the shan
ty. He's Il big crtter, and amt to be handled
like mushrat, but guess we kin with hard
strainin'. This is great luck Mr.. Smith. It'll
be hang with old Leo all the time when he
hears ont"
eve won't dress i'm IT'LL mornin', Phin, "
continued he, as we landed the carcass, "and
as this luck's rael old hundred, sposen we take
drink all round. What dye say, Mr.. Smith q!
Come, Watch, stop yer yelpin' and whinin'.
You seem TO be mighty farsi to get at dead
moose, pup, but be still, or I'll make yer yell
tur suthin, and it's
Lighted with canneon the WILDERNESS blazed
My 'spccts to ye, Mr.. Smith !'