The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-12-21

tree, and from its stock near the
| ground, some vigorous shoots of wrist
size appeared. a thought struck him
a tactful thought--a possible father Of
a possible deed, and lie at once pro-
ceeded to put it in execution, for he
knew that the setting sun could bring
no darkness that wenld enable him
/ to escape. He Also we'll knew the
/ bulldog tenaclty of the moose for once
/ before lie had been freed, and kept up
IN it till, after a days sojourn in that
/ peculiar biyouac. his companions had
/ scared his release. He banked not at
all, therefore, on any withdrawal Of the
moses attention, and so, watching his
chance when the moose in one Of his
dashes slipped well by him in the op-
posite direction, instead of stopping be-
bind the same tree. lie sprinted well TO
tile 6ther tree, Whether the moose
now REASONED that any change would
be for the better, or, becahse he was
/ temporarily outwitted, it cannot be
said; but he rushed forward with an
increase in his speed, which for short
time had not been so furious. He came
up and found the sdiue old objection to
free fight, viz, an Intervening tree.
Pete, to remove every possible elei
inent of danger, holding his hunting
knife IN his teeth now took off his
.oosefittfng but warm hunting Jacket.
aud threw it one side. He was having
exercise enough to keep warm, but he
took it Off for fear that one of the
pr6ngs OF his cnemy's antlers might
catch III 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, bur, like the
bundle of skins, Ii afforded him no
satisfaction. With his hunting. knife,
which was stout and strong and doti,
ble-edged, Pete proceeded to trim off
the superiiuous twigs and upper
growth of that vigorous sprout. He
left 1t about as long as broom handle,
and it was d triie larger. Then he
commenced TO cut ii off at the base.
All Of this work had to be done when
lie 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 rusty blade, he succeeded
in wrenehing clear and free from It's
parent stock that strong young shoot.
His eye cleaned with hope as he
lan5loJ ~ Loefo1 "a nnd ,,,ooe,,ro1 to
capabilities. After such further trim
ming to smooth its surface as his con-
iinued forest dance would allow-for
the moose got madden yet, apparently,
when even a short respite came-he
cut a few small creases like the thread
Of 4 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 flattened sur
face, and looked carefully for any place
where a little removal of wood would
make the handle fit as snugly as posi-
BILE. and then, after a little more par.
ing, under circumstances that natur-
ally would take pieces Of fingers with
it. a bhggsr hope shone in his eye.
Neither lie nor the moose had yet ut
tered a sound
Now Pete took from his brooches
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-
yiously made for its firm holding. He
took up al loose places, and made that
hunting knife and handle to feel and
practically be like one solid piece.
Then. very coolIy taking from his
pocket a small piece of Nova Scotia
milestone about the size and shape
Of a package of chewing gum, he
turned the spear point up, as a woods
man does an axe, and after moistening
the stone with saliva he piled it in a
lively manner, with apparently as
much nonchalance as barber does a
razor to his favorite hone. Many times
he had been obliged to change his pc,
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 precautioD, or realize the changed
state of affairs, he thrust the spear
head around the tree like fash, and
the keen blade went under the bottom
Of his jaw, out of sight, inficting a
smarting wound He followed 1t up
with another right on the snout as that
was most exposed, and scored again,
for, like Hamish, in the famous story
Of Sidney Lanier, mo blood, no count"
In all these thrusts he was compelled
to exercise great care lest some prong
of the quickly antlers should
disarm him. AS the moose came up
against the tree, Pete put in his best
work, reaching for the vital throat ar
FIERY. whose location he knew so wei.
What a fool the. moose was His
madness took away his Judgment II
he had just stood back little way
from the tree, he would have been
out of Pete's reach, and yet virtually
- ,,o,ro1. l,,74 bic xvssy-xr