Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-03-02


He was standing with his rump to
me, and his nose occasionally sought
the moss, only to be raised in n mo-
ment and thrust into the wind while
the gentleman chewed n mouthfuL /
About halfway between us was n |
goodly clump of brush, overgrowing
some scattered powders, while the
space between my shelter and the
brush was filed with little hummoclzs
and hollowS, showing where the low
growth, moss, etc, upheld the snow.
If once gained the brush and nerves
kept steady he should drop in his
tracks. l hesitated for moment be.
tween waiting for broadside 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 Il question of wriggling along
II Ia serpent. In this position the
caribou was invisible, but l had faith
in the wind, and was wriggling logged
ly forward when from clump of moss
not twenty feet from my nose n grouse
walked quietly forth cluclling softly to
itself in regard to my probable bust
ness
Here was pretty position. OF course
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 drcamily and chuclllcd
in an eXaspcratingly commissioning
fashion, until the cramp-knot in my
leg grew hard as Il baseball, and i
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 4 safe distance
1 Strengthened my cramp and wrigglcd
on to the tuft whence the grouse had
come. Inch by inch l raised my head
until clear view was possible of the
bulls fecding-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 windcd me. lie had
merely decided to move along.
But chance favored me in the next
move. The caribou, after going half
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
| started for him again. 1t was long,
hard task to cross the barren in Il
crouching position, but finally man
/ aged to get behind him safely and fol-
4
for the shooting was heavy, but the
chase was leading homcward. l was
mad all through and game to fight it
out on that line till darkness came.
Presently ii began to snow and in half
an hour the air was thick with soft
fallinr flakes. This was in my favor,
save that sometimes lost sight of the
bull, only to rcdiScovcr 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 rrclcd OF the miles at an cx-
| crciain,r gait. At last the snow almost
| ceased, but the air was darllcning fast,
and guessed VIC must be within a
short distance of camp.
While l was c,dravorinr to figure
ont my exact whereabouts the bull
halted i'll an oprn space. bOr,iCrrd on
| my side hy clumPs of good cover, and
began to frCl. NJ WCarincsS was for
gotten in Il moment; luck had turned
my way ut last, for lie was in perhaps
the best position for me that he could
have chosen in the whole barron.
ncakingrapidly on rs far as was safe,
l once again dotted shoes and got down
| on hands and knees and craWled, and
| crawlcd, and crawlcd, until the cover
was gained. and my victim stood
broadsidc on, not eighty yards away.
| He was feeding busily and had no moro
| idea that l was near than | had of
| shouting. Carefully | raised to my
| knees and waited one moment to pull
| myself thoroughly together for the shot
| that must needs decide the matter. A
last glance 1T the distance, and at the
| sight to make certain that it was at the
lowest notch and / thought to myself:
Now, my son, / surmise I'll just set
| tie for all this tramp. If l don't drop
you"
"Whang!' the roar Of rifle sounded
from clump to my left, stream Of
| fiery smoke shot from the brush, the
bull gave n tremendous lungc forward
and went down in Il heap.
| For an instant l was petrificd with
amazemcnt; then lcapcd to my feet
prepared to do hardly knew what.
From the brush near by rose lanlz
figure, coppcry face pecrcd forth,
and an unmistakablc voice muttcrcd
| Cess 1 down UNI car'boo!'
80! You blank, smokc-tanned
idiot, I've blamed good notion to put
| n ball through youl"
10 started with US much surprise as
his kind ever show; then his broad
mouth spread in Il diabolical grin, for
he guessed every incident of the story.
'Me no see you. See UNI car'boo
cum long. Me hide, tinlz mobile kill
UNI car'boo. You lynx. you creep
creep-me no tinlz you chase UNI car
boo"
And that was all the comfort got,