Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-11-29

wa ''h' "''s
T. pitched under the
e. ccdarS on the
y shore Of Squa.
took Lake, No. t. on the line of the
lovely, yet sometimes bold and rapid
Madawaska.
Dr. Stephen Criggs, of Brooklyn, and
myself We're taking canoe trip on
these waters from their source in
Mud Lake to their entrance into the
st. John at Idmundston, at the north
eastern corner Of the State of Maine;
and Peter Theriot, of Caribou, was our
guide. He was scarcely out of his
"teens," powerful young man physic-
ally, and skilled in woodcraft, which
semeed really first nature to him. He
knew from trapping experience the
entire region of the Tobique. the Green,
the RestigOuche and other rivers, and
had killed much game, large and
small
He was returning one day from his
customary visit to his line of traps,
which run for twenty miles or more,
fox, or other creature, according to
country and conditions. He carried a
medium sized, single barrel, muzzle-
loading gun, charged with buckshot,
simply to be OH the safe side. 1t was
in the middle of the afternoon. near
the end of his circutous route. and
the load of skins on his back attestrd
not only to his skill, but to the further
fact that his physical powers that day
had been drawn upon more than usual.
Walking rapidly over n little rise of
ground he suddenly came upon an i'm
mense bull moose, lying down in the
forest. The range was very short, and
his gun, of course, more effective on
that account, SO that the charge
brought the moose. stunned and
wounded, to the ground, the heavy
buckshot rafting against his antlcrs.
Pete's joy knew no bounds when this
unexpected forest nhabitant, for which
no trap had been set, seemed likely
to be an additional trophy to the spells
of the day. Instantly drawing his
hunting knife, he sprang forward, I'M
fortunately leaving his gun behind,
to cut the animals throat, after which
the blood would run freely, and the
meat be in better condition for the
morrow when, with help, he would re-
turn. Approaching quickly, but With
great precautiOn the keen edge had no
sooner started on its artery1Opening
work, when presto! Like Il dash of
cold water the prick of the cold steel
apparently revived the moose, which
jerked back its head; and in Il moment.
as if that immense corporoSity had
been filled with powerful springs Of
steel, rcgained his feet. Pete jumped
suddenly backward, and MI Man and
Mr.. Moose We're thus brought by this
unique introduction, fa 20 to face. Snort
No followed as Il blast evidently he
tOkening war, and without waiting for
Pete to get ready for defense, the
moose in his anger doubtless gonded
by pain, rushed to the spot where the
guide had, more quickly than ever
before. gained a perpendicular position.
Reader, did you ever see Il full-grown
bull moose! The bulls of Bashan, the
war horses of the Orient, the excited
Amazons Of fable, cannot surpass his
really terrible look.
Pete himself had never taken moose
In this way before. A few hunters
have, but others have told the tale.
Buck fever" Pshaw. What is that
compared to moose fright. at range
so close that the moist, hot. painting
breath from his furnace-lungs can be
felt on your face? This was what
Pete felt rs he deXterously leaped to
one side, and let the plunge Of the
moose to which his mighty avoirdupois
had given immense momentum. carry
him beyond. That was most mar
row escape, and only the greatest agil.
fty and strength on petes part could
have averted disaster and death. In a
die Of spoils We're cut by his hunting
knife, as he started to the nearest
tree, luckily of medium size. with
the moose close behind him, as he had
gathered himself for the back rush
like fash. Happily for Pete, the
falling bundle of skins, tumbling down
behind him and somewhat obstructing
the vision of the moose. led him to
think. If moose ever thought, that
here was a portion of his enemy's per-
son, and thus gave Pete the second of
time he needed One plunge of the
mooSes antlers scattered the skins.
and showed them not the hide he was
after. Apparently lie was madden for
being fooled, and rushed, without
studying the position, toward the tree,
behind which. with hunting knife still
in hand, Pete stood. every muscle
tense. awaiting the fearful charge
DO you see the position? The Lord de-
liver us from such and similar
One the moose came. scurrying the
little snow. and making the frozen
earth fairly rumble with his cantering
hoofs; but the moose had to take the
one side or the other, as the tree. for
tunately for our guide. was too large
to be broken down. and not large
enough to give the moose any advan-
tage. OF course. the side that the
moose took would be minus Peter, and
as the moose could not fight backward.
but had to turn around each time to re.
new the fray. 1t gave Pete n breat and
and to look around him. A little way