The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-08-01

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b1reh trees which dotted the trodden
space wero cropped Of all but their
toughest and coarsest branches, and
tAs wall OF loftier growth which
fenced the yard was stripped of its
tenderer twigs TO the utmost height
Of che tall bulls neck. The available
provender was all but gone, and the
herd was In that restlessness which
precedes move TO new pastures.
The herd Of moose was small one
three gaunt, rusty-brown, slouch-
ing cows, two ungainly calves Of n
lighter hue, and one huge, high
shouldered bull, whose sweep Of
palmated antlers bristlcd like for
est. Compared with the towering
bulk Of his forequarters, the massive
lepth of his roughmnned neck, the
weight Of the formidable antlers. the
length aud thickness of his clumsy,
hooked muzzle with its prehensile up
per lip--his lean aud frayed hindquar-
ters looked grotesquely diminutive.
Surprised by three days OF binding
snowfnll, the great bull moose had
been forced TO establish the yard for
his herd In an unfnvorable neighbor-
hood; and now he found himself con-
fronted by the necessity Of long
march through snow of such softness
and depth ms would make swift move.
n,ent impossible and fetter him in the
face of his enemies. In deep snow
che moose can neither fee nor fight,
st both of which he is adept under
Gair conditions; and deep snow, as he
knew, IL the opportunity of the wolf
end the hunter. But In this case the
herd had no choice. II was simply
take the risk or starve.
That same night, when the moon
was rising round and white behind
che firtops, the tall bull breasted and
trod down the snowy barrier. and led
his herd of northward between the
hemlock trunks and the jutting gran
tie bowlders. lie moved slowly. his i'm
sense muzzle stretched straight out be-
fore him. the bony array of his antlers
laid bnck level to avoid the hindrnnce
Of clinging boughs. Here and there
. hollow under the level surface
would set him plunging and wallow-
ing for q rcoment, but In the main
Bis giant strength enabled him 10
forge his way ahead with n steady
majesty of might. Behind him. in
dutiful line, came the three cows:
and behind these, again, the calves
followed at ease In n clear trail, their
muzzles not outstretched like that of
the leader. but dropping almost "a
the snow. their high shoulders work
ting awkwartily nj every stride. In
utter silence, like dark, monstrous
specters, the line Of strange shapes
moved on; and down the bewildcring,
ever-rearranging forest corridors the
ominous fingers of long moonlight
felt curiously after them. When
they had journeyed for some hours
the herd came out upon high and
somewhat bare plateau. dotted sparse
iy with clumps Of aspen, stunted yel-
low birch and spruce. From this
tableland the streaming northwest
winds had swept the snow almost
clean, carrying II of To fill the neigh.
boring valley. The big bull, who
knew where he was going and had
uc will to linger on the way. halted
only for few minutes browsing
and then started forward on n long
swinging trot. At every stride his
loose-hung, wide-cleft, spreading
hooves came sharply together with q
dat. clacking noise. The rest of the
line swept dutifully into place, and
the herd wns Oft.
but not all the herd. One OF the
calves, teTpted n little inside by Il
thicket of special juciness and SAVIOR
took alarm, and thought he was go
ing to be left behind. lie spranp
forward. n powerful but clumsy
stride, careless OF his footing. 4
treacherous screen of snow-crusted
scrub gave way. and he slid sprawlinp
to the bottom OF u little narrow gul
~ or crevicc, natural pitfall IIis
mother. looking solicitously back,
ward, saw him disappear. With q
Leave Of her shoulders, n sweep oi
her long, hornless head. an anxious
dick of her little naked tail. she
swung out OF the line and trottcd
swiftly to the rescue.
There was nothing she could do
The creyice was some ten or twelv,
feet long and five or six in width
with sides almost perpendicalnr. Tn,
calf could just reach It's bushy edges
with his np-stretcbed mnzzlc, but b,
could get no fooibold by which "a
chamber out. On every side he cs.
sayed II. falling back with n hoars,
bleat from each frightened effort
while the mother, with head down
and piteous eyes staring upon him
run round and round the rim of the
trap. At last, when he stopped and
stood with palpitating sides and wide
nostrils OF terror, she. too. halted
Dropping awkwardly upon her knees
In the snowy bushes. with loud, blow
ting breaths. she reached down her
head to nose ana comfort him with
Der sensitive muzzle. The Gulf leaned
up ns close as possible 20 her caresses.
Under their tenderness the tremblings
of his gaurt, pathetic knees presently
erased. And In this position the Two
remained almost motionless for an
hour, under the white. unftiendly
moon. The herd had gope on without
them.
In the VOLTS cnve In the great blue
and white wall OF plaster rock. miles
back beside the rushing of the river
there was famine. The she wolf
heavy and nenr her time, lny agoniz-
ing In the darkest corner OF the'cave
licking In grim silence the raw stump
of her right forcieg. Caught In a
steel trip. sbe had gnawed on her
swn paw a. the price OF freedom