Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-02-09
THE MOOSE HUNTERS
CHRISTMAS.
Written for THE AMERICAN by A. C. Smith ]

| Business this fall permitting, spent
| few days in the woods in company with
an old hermit acquaintance dwelling
alone miles from any other person. and
differing from most lone ones in that he
kent no pets OF any kind, not even dog,
IA creai ure nearly always found as COM
panion to isolated man, especially II he
live on plain or in forest where game
| abounds.
| l had spent few years in the West,
and having correspondent in this
mans locality had not heard Of the ad-
venture here narrated till in reply to an
enquiring look turned on my companion
after a shot at deer at such distance,
and under such circumstances as led me
to wonder at the miss he made, he said
"Oh, don't you know? Well, Knight I'll
tell you OF the experience that shattered
my nerves, affected my sight, aud
nearly cost me my life"
| So that night in camp, supper over,
guns cleaned and blankets shook out, the
| old man, now more than three score and
ten years Of age, told me the following
true story:
had known for some time where two
moose were yarding, and I thought TINT
at Christmas would give them try and
so pass my holiday in the woods. On
December "a | started with provisions for
two days, yet thinking to be back on the
morning of the second, as I expected to
find the game that night to start it from
the yard few miles, where 1 would camp
on he tral to be up early he next morning
and away, hoping to be able to shoot one
OF the moose, to dispose of the carcass
which would get later with moose
sled, and be ready to start for home
on he morning of the Goth.
So much for my plan of campaign; but
found with Burns CHAT the best laid
plans OF mice and men gang aft aglee".
found the game as | had hoped and
drove 1t from the yard, followed it until
nearly dark, camped III sheltered place
by the side OF an orerhangiug cliff, where
with good fire on the open side and a
good bed OF boughs under me, passed the
night comfortably, broke my fast at an
early hour and followed on up the trail.
found that the moose had camped for
the night but short distance away, and
had started at my earliest stir They
were now, as | could tell by their tracks,
swinging along in their trot, differing in
that from any other wild creature but the
horse. 1t is the most distance. covering
peace annoying gait that was ever set for
hunter, either wolf or man. The In
dams have saying in regard to this
creature that, while not descriptive of the
gait, is an indicator OF the Indians APP
probation OF the animals abilities as "A
traveller: "Moose day old, man catch him;
moose week old, dog catch him; moose
month old, the devil he no catch him.
TRUSTED that in the deep snow they
would tire so as to allow me to come
within range; as | had considered it
much better for me than it would have
been had there been larger herd as they
would, by often changing leaders, have
kept comparatively fresh.
About O'Clock, in crossing ridge,
noticed black cloud in the northwest,
and shortly after the sun, that since the
morning had shone brightly, became
clouded Presently squall was upon me
| i'll full force, and much trouble it caused
me. Besides being so thick | could see
but short distance, it was driven in my
face, for those moose had travelled
straight away toward the Allegash, taking
me from home and into a country Of
which knew but little and where but
few lumbermen or hunters are to be
found.
The damp heavy snow loaded my snow
shoes, impeding my progress. Sorely
| against me in every way was this squat,
but tramped on as best could, hoping
to find the objects Of my quest where they
bad taken shelter in some thicket; but
they were evidently bound for some great
swamp, and made no stop. | followed on
till it became dusky in the deep woods,
when selected camping spot where |
spent the second night, but not nearly so
comfortably rs the first. The boughs
were wet with the moist snow, and the
wood of which | built my fire was wet
and bothered me for some time. Finally
when it did burn, its heat melted the
snow on the face Of the cliff by which |
had made my couch, and wet the boughs
had collected for my bed.
AT intervals during the night it showed
or squailed, for it was as eapricious as a
spotted child, one moment bright and
clear, with the companionable stars shin
ing through the branches upon me, the
next, scowling clouds, wailing winds and
gusts of snow.
In the morning followed along on the
trail again till about O'Clock, when, on
gaining the crest OF high ridge, 1 saw
the moose miles ahead OF ne, crossing a
lake which | thought / knew as Little b,
and in 50 thinking made mistake which
proved nearly fatal to me.
had spent two nights in the woods,
had tramped nearly two days and could
not have covered less than thirty-fi