The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-03

! took Lake, No. 4. OH the line OF the
lovely, yet sometimes bold and zapid
Madawaska.
DR.. Stephen Griggs. Of Brooklyn. and
myself were taking canoe trip Oh
these waters from their source In
Mud Lake to their entrance into the
81. John ut Edmundston. ut the north
eastern corner OF the State OF Maine:
and Peter Theriot. OF Carbon. was our
guide. He was scarcely out Of his
teens" q 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 TobiIue. the Green.
the Restigouche. and ogher rivers, and
had killed much game. large and
small.
He was returning ole 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
mcdirm-sized. single-barrel, muzzle-
loading gun, charged with nuckshot.
simply to be on the safe side. 1t was
In tho 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 10 the further
fact that his physical powers that day
had been drawn upon more than usual.
Walking rapidly over little rise Of
ground, he suddenly came upon an i'm
mense ezall moose, lying down In the
forest. The range was very short. and
his sun, Of course. more effective on
that account, SO that the charge
brought the moose. stunned and
wounded, to the ground. the heavy
buckshot rattling against his antlers.
Pete's Joy knew no bounds when this
unexpected forest inhabitant, for which
no trap had been set. seemed likely
20 be an additional trophy to the spoils
Of the day. Instantly drawing his
hunting knife. he sprang forward. un-
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 precauticn. the keen edge had no
sooner start ID on its artery1opening
work, wher presto! Like a dash Of
cold water the prick Of the cold steel
apparently revived the moose. which
jerked back Its head: and In 4 moment.
as II 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. 2 followed as a 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 a perpendicular position.
Reader, did you ever see 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 huaters
have, but others have told the tale.
'Buck fever!' Pshaw! What Is that
compared to moose fright. at q range
40 close that the moist. hot. painting
breath from his furnace-lungs can be
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.
fly and strength on Pete's part could
have averted disaster and death. In q
twinkling. the straps holding his bun
de Of spoils were cut by his hunting
knife, as he started to the neares,
tree, luckily Of medium size. with
the moose close behind him, as he had
gathered himself for the back rush
like q fash. Happily for Pete. the
falling bundle of skins. tumbling down
behind him and somewhat ohstructins
the vision Of the moose. led him tC
think, II a moose ever thought. tha,
here was q portion Of his enemy's per
9on, and thus gave Pete the second OF
time he needed. One plunge OF tn,
h4 cl-tn
and showed them not the hide he was
after. Apparently he was madder FOL
being fooled. and rushed. without
studying the position. toward the tree
behind which. with hunting knife still
In hand. Pe;e 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 frozer
earth fairly rumble with his canterin:
hoofs; but the moose had to take tht
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
sage. OF course. the side that tn,
moose took would be minus Peter. ant
rs the moose could not fight backward
but had to turn around each time to re
new the fray. 1t gave Pete breat ant
He began now to study the situation
and to look around him. A little wa!
of. q rod. perhaps. there was anothe
tree, and from its stock near tn,
ground, some vigorous shoots of wris
size appeared. A thought struck him