The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-10-02
Moose Hunting in Summer.

The wind had risen, and there was con-
siderable tossing of the surface. making il
difficult to guide the canoe. Peter, put tc
his mette, padded like mad On We
went across the lake, toward a bay mile
| and a hlIf away upon the other side
'-look right over that rock, said Peter,
'-tbH is the moose" And sure CROUCH
there W. Il huge, ungainly, misshapen
bunch Of dingv color visible close
to the shore. ''lloW near can We get
70 him , | inquired. About Us near
a. those rocks, said Peter in reply, point
ing to a spot within forty yards of us.
Presently he said, Il don't think we can
get very near him.. We were then a
quarter Of 4 mile away, and thcrcupon |
fixed my sights for u dead shot at long
distance. had been striving, ever since
the start to master my emotion and show
Peter | could shoot but when he said, in
an exciting whisper, "Hc's got horns on
him, very nearly gave it up for a 6ull
Dloo$e Of all the deer that roam the woods
had been my dream for a month, and here
was this Numbering elcphantnc creature,
Slowly turning about his unwieldy bulk as
he cropped the feed that grew about him
in the water, monstrous beyond all my
imaginations Of his kind, and showing. as
he raised and lowered his head, pair of
horns that surpassed anything had ever
seen for size and beauty.
The dead sights were up with which
had frequently hit dollar at ten rods.
The splash of the paddle had given place
To Il noSelcs9 movement, without taking
the blade ont of the water, with which
the hunter approaches game. We were
going nearer. NEARER 1t became
evident that We We're to have Il close shot
but | did not dare to alter my sights, for
fear the beast would look round and catch
the motion Of my arm A sudden thought
the bay. to the IccWard of the beast and
WA approaching him from the direction
Of th sun. He would naturally feed with
his back to the sun, to avoid the glare of
the reflection from the water, and if he
looked round, toward the figures which
We're gliding down upon him like messen-
grr~ from the spirit world, he would get
the -ln IN his eyes already sinking toward
the water, il being a little past the middle
ui The afternoon and what with that and
what with the Glare of its reflection up
ou the surface he might not see us until
we were Very near. Don't shoot him
abou the head; shoot him about the
hear, was Peters last advice ''and don't
Shoot till tell you to shoot" My gun
was at my shoulder, but it was with great
diilic,lty thai ! could get the fine sights
upon him. | must peep through pinhole
and put the head Of u pin upon his shaggy
hide. EIe wa, dark, and the sights did
hot Show ''>hoot :" whispered Peter. |
could not see the sights. '.Shoot I" said
Peter again | would not pull the trigger
till | was dead sure of my game. Mean
while the moose was turning from right
To left. feeding at his ease, occasionally
looking up and STOPPING to feed again.
At length, after what seemed to me, and
10 doubt ID Peter, an age of hesitation,
and after tEr command to shoot had been
lI;rce times repeated with ever-ncreasing
emphasis, cot sight upon his dingy
coat Just a. he turned his broad side away
from us, and his hind quarter came round
III range, 'One," ~palse the little barrel,
and there came back, Il second aiter-a
sweet sound to Il hunters esr-.he soft
thud Of the ball in the Welding flesh
Slowly he turned, and looked upon us like
i lamb Then slowly turning again he
commenced to walk with gentle steps to-
ward the shore Shoot again. said
Peter, and this time | had more trouble
than at first '.>hoot,' said Peter and
fired in utter desperation. 4 second thud
'.Dont shoot now" said Peter, a. drew
up my rifle for the third time; '.he's
down. And 10. in moment the I'M
mense beast, turning his head toward us,
rolled over upon his side. There he lay
kicking as we cautiously approached, and
i'll half minute he was dead The game
was up.