The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-25

the moss, only to be raised i'll mo-
ment and thrust into the wind while
the gentleman chewcd n mouthful.
About halfway between us was a
goodly clump of brush, ovcrgrowing
some scattered powders, willie the
space between my shelter and the
brush was filed with little hummocks
and hollows, showing where the low
growth, moss, etc, upheld the snow.
If l once gained the brush and nerves
kept steady he should drop in his
tracks. l hcsitatcd for a moment be.
tween waiting for n broadsidc shot
from where l was, or attempting to
crawl to the brush, then got down on
hands and knees and began the diff
cult journey. The hummocks were
smaller and follower when reached
than they looked at first, and when
halfway across the dangerous space it
became u question of wriggling along
a Ia serpent. In this position the
caribou was invisible, but / had faith
in the wind, and was wriggling logged
~ forward when from a clump Of moss
not twenty feet from my nose grouse
walked quietly forth clucking softly to
itself in regard to my probable bust
ness
Here was pretty position. OF course
l didn't dare flush the grouse for fear
of alarming the caribou, and for long,
agonizing moments lay there in the
snow staring at that Internal bird,
while it eyed me dreamily and chuckled
in an exasperatingly commiserating
fashion, until the cramp-knot', in my
leg grew hard rs n baseball, and 1
fumed and ragged and groaned inward
ly. At last the fool bird satisfied its
curiosity and trottcd dcmurely away,
and when it had got to safe distance
Strengthened my cramp and wriggled
on to the tuft whence the grouse had
come. Inch by inch l raised my head
until clear view was possible of the
bulls feeding-ground-hc had vanished
as though the earth had swallowed
him! Hastily glancing up the barren,
l caught sight of him walking smartly
along good four hundred yards away.
He was not alarmed; he had neither
heard, seen nor winded me. He had
merely decided to move along.
But chance favored me in the next
move. The caribou, after going half
mile, suddenly turned across the barren
and headed for the timber on the far
Their side, at the same time edging
slightly in my direction. This course
kept him we'll to windward, and when
he finally approached the Distant cover
l started for him again. 1t was Il long,
hard task to cross the barren in a
crouching position, but finally man.
aged to get behind him safely and fol-
lowed the track. was now very tired.
for the shooting was heavy, but the
chase was leading homeward. l was
mad all through and game to fight it
out on that line till darkness came.
Presently it began to snow and in half
an hour the air was thick with soft
falling flakes. This was in my favor,
save that l some times lost sight of the
bull, only to rediscover him walking
steadily along headed direct for the
camp. My only hope was that he might
halt to feed. He was going about as
fast as | could, and SO for two good
hours we rccled off the miles at an ex.
ercising gait at last the snow almost
ceased, but the air was darltcninr fast,
and guessed we must be within a
short distance of camp
While l was endcavoring to figure
out my exact whereabouts the bull
halted in an open space, bordered on
my side by c)umps of good cover, and
began to feed. My WEAKNESS was for
gotten in moment; luck had turned
my way at last, for he was in perhaps
the best position for me that he could
have chosen in the whole barren.
sncaking rapidly on as far as was safe,
once again DOTTED shoes and got down
on hands and knees and crawlcd, and
crawled, and crawlcd, until the cover
was gained, and my victim stood
broadside on, not eighty yards away.
lie was feeding busily and had no more
IDEA that / was near than | had of
shouting Carefully 1 raised to my
knees anC waited one moment to pull
myself thoroughly together for the shot
that must needs decide the matter. A
last glance at the distance, and at the
sight to make certain that it was at the
lowest notch and thought to myself:
Now, my son, surmise III ius1 Get:
tie for all this tramp. If I doh't drop
YOU"
"Whang!" the roar of rifle sounded
from a clump to my left, stream of
fiery smoke shot from the brush, the
bull gave tremendous lunge forward
and went down in heap.
For an instant / was petrified with
amazcment; then leapcd to my feet
prepared to do 1 hardly knew what.
From the brush near by rose a lank
figure, coppery face pecred forth,
and an unmistal1able voice muttercd:
Cess down uIn car'boo!"
10! You blank, smokc-tanned
idiot, I've blamed good notion to put
a ball through you'll"
10 started with as much surprise as