The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-01-08
NO. Sd.
Moose Hunting in Summer.

Moose Hunting in Summer.
The wind had risen. and there was
considerable tossing of the surface, max
ing it difficult to guide the canoe. Peter,
put to his mctle, padded like mad, with
out once stopping to take breath On
We went, across the lake, toward bay
mile and half away upon the other side
Look right over that rock, said Peter,
''thqt is the moose" Aud sure enough,
there was huge, upgainly, misshapen
bunch of a dingy color visible close to
the shore "How near can we get to
him 2" | inquired about as near as
those rocks, said Peter in reply, pointing
to spot within forty yards Of US. Pre-
sently he said. Il don't think we can get
very near him" We were then quar-
ter of mile away, and thereupon | fixed
my sights for dead shot at long dis
tance. | had been striving, ever since
the start to master my emotion and show
Peter | could shoot but when he said,
in an exciting whisper, Hes got horns
on him. very nearly gave it up, for a
GuU moose, of all the deer that roam in
the woods, had been my dream for
month, and hero was this numbering,
clephantine creature, slowly, turning
around his unwieldy bulk as he cropped
the feed that grew about him in the wa
ter, monstrous beyond all my inaginations
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.
| Ia Jo,I -
had freqently hit dollar at ten rods.
The splash Of the paddle had given place
to the noiseless movement, without tax
ing the blade out Of the water, with which
the hunter approaches game. We were
going nearer, nearer NEARER, 1t be-
came evident that we were to have lose
shot, but did not dare to alter MY sights,
for fear the beast would look round aud
catch the motion of M arm a sudden
thought had struck Peter. He had pad
died across the bay, to the leeward OF the
beast, and vas approaching him from the
! direction of the sun. He would natural
| ly feed with his back to the sum, to avoid
the glare of the reflection from the water,
and if he looked round, toward the figures
which were gliding down upon him like
messengers from the spirit world, he
would get the sun in his eyes, already
sinking toward the water, it being little
past the middle of the afternoon, and
what with that and what with the glare of
its reflection upon the surface, be might
not see IS until we were very near
Don't shoot him about the head shoot
him about the heart" was Peters last
. Il 4:Il 7 al
shoot" My gun was at my shoulder,
but it was with great difficulty that l
could get the fine sights upon him.
must peep through pinhole and put the
head of pin upon his shaggy hide. He
was dark, and the sights did not slow
"Shoot p whispered Peter. | could not
see the sights '',Shoot :" said Peter
again. | would not pull the trigger till
| was sure of my game. Meanwhile the
moose was turning from right to left, feed
ing at his ease, occasionally looking up
ana stopping to feed again. AT length,
after what seemed to me, and no dou]
to Peter, an age of hesitation, and after
the command to shoot had been three
times repeated with ever increasing en-
phasis, got a sight upon his dingy coat
just as he turned his brOadSide away from
US, and his hind quarter came round in
ronge. "One," spake the little barrel,
and there came back, a second after
sweet sound to a hunters ear-the soft
tkub Of the ball in the yielding flesh.
Slowly he turned, and looked upon US
like a lamb. Then slowly turning again
he commenced to walk with gentle steps
toward the shore. "Shoot again" said
Petert and this time had more trouble
than at first. "Shoot," said Peter aud
fred in utter desperation. 4 second
thud "Don't shoot now" said Peter, as
| drew up my rifle for the third time
shes down !' And, To- 10 moment the
Immense beast, turning his head toward
us, rolled over upon his side. There he
lag kicking as We cautiously approached,
and in half minute he was dead The
game was up.