The suburban citizen., 1902-12-06


tree, and from its stock near the
ground some vigorous shoots of wrist
size appeared. A thought struck him
tactful thought-a possible father Of
possible deed, and he at once pro-
ceeded to put 1t in execution, for he
knew that the setting sun could bring
no darkness that would enable him
to escape. He also well knew the
bulldog tenacity Of the moose. for once
before, he had been freed, and kept up
in it till, after a days sojourn in that
peculiar bivouac. his companions had
secured his release. He banked not at
all therefore, on any withdrawal of the
mooses attention, and so, watching his
chance when the moose in one Of his
dashes slipped wei by him in the OPP
posite direction, instead of stopping be-
hind the same tree. lie sprinted well to
the other tree. Whether the moose
now reasoned that any change would
be for the better, or, because he was
temporarily outwitted, 1t cannot be
said; but he rushed forward with an
increase in his speed, which for a short
time had not been so furious. He came
up and found the same old objection to
n free fight, viz, an intervening tree.
Pete, to remove every possible ele-
lnent of danger holding his hunting
knife in his teeth, now took of his
loose-fittlng but warm hunting Jacket,
and threw it one side. He was having
exercise enough to keep warm, but he
took it off for fear that one OF the
prongs of his enemys antlers might
catch in it, and so be the means of
giving the moose the victory, and he
had once fairly trembled as these
prongs came in close proximity to his
outer garment The moose made a
dash for the garment, but, like the
bundle of skins. it afforded him no
satisfaction. With his hunting knife,
which was stout and strong and dou-
ble-edged, Pete proceeded to trim Off
the superhuous twigs and upper
growth of that vigorous sprout He
left it about as long as broom handle,
and it was a trhe larger. Then he
| commenced to cut It off at the base.
| All of this work had to be done when
| he was on that side of the tree, and
| as the moose kept him moving most OF
the time. it was slow work, but finally,
after several vigorous thrusts with his
staunch and trusty blade, he succeeded
in wrenching clear and free from its
parent stock that strong, young shoot.
His eye cleaned with hope as he
handled it, hefted II, and measured its
capabilities. After such further trim
ming to smooth its surface as his con-
tnued forest dance would allow-for
| the moose got madder yet, apparently.
when even a short respite came-he
/ cut few small creases like the thread
Of a screw around the smaller end.
and shaved one side of it fat for nearly
six inches. He laid the handle Of his
hunting knife upon this fattened sur
face. and looked carefully for any place
where n little removal of wood would
make the handle fit as snugly as possi-
BILE. and then, after a little more par
ing. under circumstances that natur-
ally would take pieces Of fingers with
it. a bigger hope shone in his eye.
Neither he nor the moose had yet ut
tered a sound.
Now Pete took from his breeches
pocket the always-carried buckskin
string, and laying the handle of his
knife upon the end of his impromptu
spear handle, with its double edge Of
steel for the projecting spear blade,
he commenced carefully and strongly
to tie the thong into the notches pre-
viously made for its firm holding. He
took up all loose places, and made that
hunting knife and handle to feel and
practically be like one solid piece:
Then, very coolly taking from his
pocket a small piece of Nova Scotia
milestone about the size and shape
of n package OF chewing gum, he
turned the spear point up, as a woods.
man does an axe, and after moistenlng
the stone with saliva, he piled it in a
lively manner, with apparently as
much nonchalance as a barber does a
razor to his favorlte hone. Many times
he had been obliged to change his POI
sition, but his physical strength had
up to this time met every demand upon
it. He knew the fight had but just
commenced; but it was his turn now,
and before the moose could take the
least precaution, or realize the changed
state Of affairs, he thrust the spear
head around the tree like a fash, and
the keen blade went under the bottom
of his jaw out Of sight, in1icting a
= smarting wound. He followed it up
with another right on the snout, as that
was most exposed and scored again
for, like Hamsh, in the famous story
Of Sidney Lanier, mo blood, no count y
, In all these thrusts he was compelled
TO exercise great care lest some prong
of the quickly-moving antlers should
disarm him. AS the moose came ur
against the tree, Pete put in his best
2 work, reaching FOR the vital throat ar
J terry, whose location he knew so well
: What a fool the moose was! His
} madness took away his judgment. II
t he had just stood back little way