Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-22

For the Y Dung.
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MORNING MUSIC
Moose Hunting in summer.

The wind had risen, and there was con-
siderable tossing of the surface making It
difficult TO guide the canoe Peter, put
to his mettle, padded like mad, without
once stopping to take breath. Ga we
vent, across the lake, toward bay mile
and half away upon the other side.
" Look right over that rock said Peter,
" that is the moose" And sure enough
there was a huge, ungainly, nisshapeu
bunch Of dingy color visible close to the
shore "ilow near can We get to him y
inquired. About as near as those
rocks, said Peter in reply, pointing to a
pot within forty yards Of US Presently
he said, I" don't think we can get very
uear him" We were then a quarter OF a
mile away, aud thereupon fixed my sight,
Tor dead shot at long distance. | had
been striving, ever since the start, to mas
ter my emotion and show Peter | could
shoot but when he said in an excl ing whis.
per, hes got horns on him. | very
nearly gave it up, for JW moose, Of all
he deer that roam in the woods, had been
ny dreams for a month, aud here was this
umbering, eephantine creature, slowly
turning about his uuwiedly bulk as he
cropped the feed that grow about him in
the water monstrous beyond all my imag-
nations Of the kind, and showing, as he
aised aud lowered his head. pair OF
norns that surpassed anything had ever
3 .eeu for size and beauty.
The dead sights were up, with which
1ad frequently hit dollar at ten rods
The splash Of the paddle had given place
10 the noiseless movement. without taking
s the blade out Of the water, with which the
b hunter approaches game. We were goiul
nearer nearer 1t became evident tina
we were to have a close shot, but did no
,lare to alter my sights, for fear the beus
would look round and catch the motion o.
my arm. A sudden thought had strucl
l0 Peter He had padded across the bay, t.
he leeward Of the beast and was approach
I ing him from the direction Of the sue. II
II would naturally feed with his back to tn
y sun, to avoid the glare Of the reiiectio
I'D from the water, and if he looked round
~ toward the figures which were gliding dow
lie upon him like messengers from the spiri
IT, world be would get the sun in his eyes, a
= ready sinking toward the water, it being
II title past the middle of the afternoon, an
20 what with that and what with the glare {
a It's reflection upon the surface, he might NJ
10 see us until we were very near. Don
z, shoot him about the head shoot him ab0t
co the heart" was Peters last advice " az
u don't shoot till tell you to shoot NJ
)S' gun was at my shoulder, but it was wit
We great difficulty that | could get the fit
1T sights upon him must peep through
IS, pinhoe aud put the head Of u pin upon h
ed shaggy hide. He was dark, and the sigh
th lid not show Shoot 20 whispered Pete
II [ could not see the sights &" Shoot :" sa
'el Peter again would not pull the trigg
no till | was dead sure Of my game Mea
W. while the moose was turning from right
eu left feeding at his ease, occasionally looklt
u' up and STOPPING to feed again. At lengt
lu after what seemed to me- and no doubt
Peter, an age Of hesitation, aud after Il
M command to shoot had been three times r
'e- peated with ever increasing emphasis, 9
sight upon his dinPy coat just as
H. turned his broadside away from US, aud h
DE hind quarter came round in range. "ORe
en- spake the little barrel, and there can
Ike pack, a second aiter--sweet sound to
rs hunters ear--the soft thud Of the ball
a the yielding flesh Slowly he turned, al
II looked upon us like lamb. Then slow
me turning again he commenced to walk wi
M gentle steps toward the shore Sho
mp again" said Peter, and this time | h
-c' more trouble than at first Shoot, "a
the Peter aud fred in utter desperation.
= second thud. Don't shoot now sa
en- Peter, as drew up my rifle for the thi
n.y. time he's down !" Aud 10, in a N
my ment the immense beast, turning his he
a toward us, rolled over upon his side The
an nc he lay kicking as we cautiously approache
u aud in half minute he was dead. 7
W game was up.