The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-12
HOW HE Won THE SHOTGUN

Ii Is contrary TO law 10 catcb trout uuElnS
that month; however Joe and Hal Lindsay
had good sport cunning for grouse and
ducks.
But Arthur Blake. not having so wealthy
a father as his cousins, owned no shotgun
and when he wished to join IN their shoot
ing expeditions he had to borrow an old
muzze-oading muSket belonging to one OF
the guides.
While the other boys were off hunting
Arthur tried to amuse himself catching
mink in "deadfalls rude IT APPS which the
guides taught him to make
But as be was n inexperienced trapper
and the mink were scarce, not many were
captured; so one evening about the middle
of September, when his uncle announced
that he was called back to the city, Arthur
very poor sport.
On seeing his sons disappointed face Mr..
Lindsay made proposal.
Boys" he said, "lf you three promise
to be careful ! might leave you here week
longer with the guides. Even then m cut
ting short your holiday bv week. and to
console you l make this offer: To the one
who gets most game in the next seven days
I'll give my light fOwling-piece
Il need heavier gun, but this one IS
about right for boy. and you know what a
beauty it is. So that Arthur may have
fair chance to win I'll leave the gun here
for him TO use"
On the afternoon of the following Mon
day, the last day Of the competition, his
Cousins skill in Wing-shnoting had made it.
self felt and Arthur was behind in the race.
Joe led him by dozen birds and Hal by
nearly as many.
just before dusk Of that day Arthur de-
cided TO row across the lake and look at some
traps he had set along the opposite shore.
The evening was damp, and, as he did not
want tina nFiZn n GET FuStV he left IL al
the camp.
After visiting the traps he started home
ward. His boat w9s moving quietly along
when he noticed something through the
twilight.
1t Was too large for a loon or deer's
head. His curiosity was excited, and he
Towed rapidly toward the moving object.
Now he had no difficulty in recognizing
il. 1t was a moose He had once seen one
of these animals stuffed, and there was DO
mistaking the oVerhanging upper lip and
broad antleTs.
He had no weapon, and how should he
capture it? This part Of the lake was mar
row; before long the animal would reach
land.
He rowed alongside, and suatching up an
car tried to strike It's head; but with one
powerful plunge the moose was out of
reach.
There seemed no other way of killing ii,
and they were approaching ominously near
the bank.
Arthur decided to make another attempt
to stun the moose, and this lime he rowed
around II, getting between il and the shore.
As lie poised an oar fer the blow, the great
animal, glazing at him with menacing eyes.
instead Of jumping away threw lis weight
against the side of the boat
The frail craft careened and, filing with
water, went down.
When the boat sank Arthur was sucked
beneath the surface and came up coughing
and choking. He was not a good swimmer,
and realized his danger.
As he rose above the water he saw right
in front OF him the antlers OF a moose.
Leaping forward he grasped these and drew
himself onto the creatures shoulders.
The moose had been surprised at the dis
appearance OF the boat; now, feeling the
boy astride its neck, 1t grew frantic and
kicked worse than any mustang.
But Arthur clenched his teeth and hung
on. Twas his one hope; as long as he sat
firmly on the swimming animal, holding its
antlers. he was safe from hoofs, teeth and
horns.
Moreover, he was sure 10 drown If the
moose could not he made to tow him ashore.
Exhausted by It's efforts to unseat the boy
lne animal swan quietly for few moments.
Then 1t stopped moving, began paving the
water and violently shaking itself
Finding that these tactics did no. rid II of
its burden the moose threw itself backward.
tossing and rolling about in the water
his performance put the boys head be-
meath the surface. and between shaking and
exertions TO retain his hold he was fast grow
ing weak.
However, his pluck held out, sustaining
him until the moose once more began swim
ming quietly toward shore
Now they were not more than thirty rods
from the bank, and the fierce animal doubt
less ieit that, once on dry land, its revenge
would be certain.
The hoy believed his strength would not
last during another such struggle, and If he
lost bis hold he would be drowned or
stamped to death
As he was dragged along something felt
heavy in the pocket uf his Jacket: he femem-
bered his large hunting knife.
Here was possible means OF escape. TT
TIE moose seemed likely to succeed in throw
Ing Tim OFF he would try to kill 1t. He saw
win Joy that they were now so near the
shore mat ne might reach there without. tie
animals assistance
a II this had passed quickly through his
mih,i. ana they were yet ten rods from
the 'a;d when the boy saw, right in their
WAY. the end of an old log rising from the
WAFER. VIZ
l'e. laps 1t would not be necessary m 70
sort to the knife, for now he had new
Mea. AS they passed the log he would
81 r.hg TO this new support aud cling there
nHii Tue angry moose was out of the Way
IftDaoly the animal would seek safety in
to i:i;n.
Ia moment mere they were beside the
log. Arthur let go of the antlers and flung
himself through the water. A stroke or
TWO carried him to the log. Putting one
,im over 1t, he was held above the surface.
I'm mere, when the moose had disap-
J. sred, he would swim ashore.
He was congratulating himself on his
e.rspe. when he heard an angry snort he.
Lll'i MN, and. glancing over his shoulder.
saN The moose, with flashing eyes. adj.
yane;ng. "u
H. had overrated the animals hurry r.
gel ashore. 1t was thinking less of escape
made beast Of burden.
Arthur had just time to spring Tn the
opposite side of the log as the angry
creature plunged at him. He now saw if
iull lace and realized It's uglness. Small
wicked eyes, long, dropping upper lin. whitt
tusks and sharp horns, made up a pietnrf
lar from pleasing to the frightened by.
Again The moose sprang through fbs
water. and again he lodged the ons7aught
Being out OF breath. 1t rested for moment
1nis breathing space gave Arthur TINA tr
open his hunting knife. o -
AS the animal came on, he moved aside
ana as the broad neck passed struck severe
rapid Dlows with his knife. The moose
turned, but this time Arthur Confronted If
and, though feeling a blow from lie for ~
loot. thrust forward the blade again anf
again. eN "n'
The boy managed to pull himself tn III,
other side OF tie log, and the moose had n,
strength to follow. The great animal floun
oefed about Tor few minutes, and then la,
Soon after, when Mr.. Lindsay was holm,
rowed across the lake on his return to m
camp. he heard faint shout coming from
Out Inc MIST he turned To one si5a or,