The suburban citizen., 1902-12-06

vi sSope sSoppS Of on souo, 1n'
took Lake, No. 4, on the line Of the
lovely, yet sometimes bold and rapid
Madawaska.
DR.. Stephen Griggs, of Brooklyn, and
myself were taking a canoe trip on
these waters from their source in
Mud Lake to their entrance into the
st. John at Edmundston. 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." a 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
sometimes, and are set for mink, or
fox, or other creature, according to
country and conditions. He carried a
medium.siZed, single-balTel muzzle-
loading gun, charged with buckshot,
simply to be on the safe side 1t was
in the middle Of the afternoon near
the end Of his circuitous route, and
the load Of skins on his back attested
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 a 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
huckshOt rattling against his antlers.
Pete's JOY knew no bounds when this
unexpected forest inhabitant, for which
no trap had been set, seemed likely
to be an additional trophy to the spoils
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 a dash Of
cold water the prick of the cold steel
apparently revived the moose, which
jerked back its head; and in moment
as if that immense corporosity had
been filed with powerful springs of
steel regained his feet. Pete jumped
suddenly backward, and Mr.. Man and
Mr. Moose were thus brought by this
unique Introduction. face to face. Snort
No. followed as n blast evidently be-
tokening war, and without waiting for
Pete TO get ready for defense. the
moose in his anger, doubtless goaded
by pain. rushed TO the spot where the
guide had, more quickly than ever
before, gained perpendicular position.
Reader, did you ever see a 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 feverw Pshaw! What is that
compared to moose fright, at a range
so close that the moist, hot, painting
Ia, bs
felt on your face? This was what
Pete felt as 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 a most mar
row escape, and only the greatest agil
ity and strength on Pete's part could
have averted disaster and death. In q
twinkling, the straps holding his bun
die Of spoils were cut by his hunting
knife, as he started TO the nearest
tree, luckily of medium size, witt
the moose close behind him, as he had
gathered himself for the back rusl
like a fash. Happily for Pete, the
falling bundle of skins, tumbling dowr
behind him and somewhat obstructinl
the vision Of the moose, led him tC
think, If a moose ever thought, tha
here was a portion Of his enemy's per
son, and thus gave Pete the second Ot
time he needed. One plunge of tn,
moose's antlers scattered the skins
and showed them not the hide he wal
after. Apparently he was madder fOI
being fooled, and rushed. withou
studying the position, toward the tree
behind which, with hunting knife still
in hand, Pete stood, every muscl,
tense, awaiting the fearful charge
DO you see the position? The Lord de
liver us from such and similar
One the moose came, scurrylng tn,
little snow, and making the frozel
earth fairly rumble with his canterlni
hoofs; but the moose had to take tn
one side or the other, as the tree, for
tunately for our guide, was too larg
to be broken down, and not larg
enough to give the moose any advan
tage. OF course, the side that tn