The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-09-02
Zacky had brought along quite pack
age of corn bread, to go with the meat,
as he EXPRESSED IT,


age of corn bread, to go with the meat,
| as he expressed it.
As yet had not the least idea of his
method of hunting. The old chap
seemed to relish my ignorance very
much.
60, you'll see how ITS done!' was all I
could get out of him.
AS it grew dusk Zacky carefully re-
charged his rifle, and told me to be sure
that my own was ready. He then took
up his package of bread, and bade me
come on !'' A few rods beyond where we
had been sitting there was clump of
low ceders. Zacl1y pushed aside the
thick boughs, and, much to my surprise,
drew out small canoe (an ashen frame
covered with green hide) which had lain
concealed under the cedars.
'fYou take hold of one end, said he,
''and we'll carry it down to the water"
1t was not heavy not more than a
hundred weight. After launching this
miniature vessel, Zack next proceeded
to bend down and cut off lot of alder
brush with his hunting knife. This he
placed over both bow and stern of the
canoe in such manner as to make it
resemble mere mass of boughs, or o
tree-top floating on the water. We then
got in, Zacky arranging the foliage SO
as to conceal our bodies. The paddles
were tied to the row locks with thongs.
"Easy, now !" said Zacky. ''No spat-
| tering!'
Pulling gently out, we moved quietly
up the lake at distance of twenty or
thirty rods from the dark wooded shore.
1t was dim, and, as yet, moonless eve
ming The stars of the Great Dipper
showed hazily over the thick forest of
the northeast. Musk-rats were pad
ticing his dismal bass solos off in the
woods to the left while the odious
maulings of couple Of quarrelsome
wood-cats came family from the other
shore.
About q mile above the point where
we embarked, a deep bay opened into
the woods line along the shore. Zacky
| turned into it, and we slowly made our
way up to its head nearly half mile
back from the entarance. A hundred
yards from the mouth of little stream
that flowed into the head Of the bay,
Zacky drew in his oar.
'sSoftly, now !" he whispered. 'tWe1l
| try our luck here. Cock your rife and
be on hand -
Then, raising his hand to his mouth,
| he drew in his breath, and gave q most
unearthly sound Such sound from
| human lungs I have never heard before
nor since! It was uttered 30 suddenly
that [ came near bouncing overheard
with the start it gave me.
Many of my readers will remember to
have heard the frightful squeal which a
horse will sometimes utter when sudden
ly bitten by another. Zacky's notes
were horribly like these equine ejacula-
tions. I couldn't possibly give any
clearer idea of it. The old fellow lay
back and enjoyed a silent shake of laugh
ter over the jump I had made, then re-
covering his gravity, he whispered hur-
riedly, in explanation, that he had i'm
titated the cry of the stag-moose at this
season !; September and October being
the time when moose associate in pairs.
The stays are very jealous of rivals at
this season of the year, and will rush at
any intruder upon their grounds with
the greatest fury. Zacky's method of
| hunting was to paddle along In disguise
past their probable haunts, and initiate
their cry. Hearing it the moose-stag
would suppose some rival was approach
ing, and rush out upon the shore to
meet him-an opportunity Zacky would
improve to shoot him from the canoe.
''There may not be any within hear
ing this time" he continued, 'but we
shall probably raise one in the course of
the night. This is good place for 'em
though. I'll call 'em some more," ut
tering another squeal which made the
silent depths of the forest hideous with
its echoes.
We then listened intently for some
minutes.
"We shall hear him coming, smashing
| through the brush, if he hears me, long
before he gets out in sight," whispered
Zacky, giving a third call.
But nothing stirred the forest SEEM
| ed profoundly STILL
"We'n move on remarked the old
man, taking up his oar.
We pulled out of the bay, and rowed
on up the lake for nearly another mile,
before Zacky deemed proper to make
another trial of his vocal powers. This
time however, he was rather unexpected
ly answered by low believing noise
from the opposite shore, fully two miles
away.
''On the other side, sure's ye live"
muttered the veteran moose-slayer.
"We must make q circuit and come
round there
To do this we went on for nearly an
other mile, then gradually veering out
into the lake, made our way across, and
moved silently down the opposite shore.
'sTwas about here, I believe" whis-
pered Zacky. ''Now be ready for him, :"
giving prodigious squeal.
Instantly loud below resounded
from the forest bordering the water. fol-