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

edy Row, Kingston, N. Y.
off, rod, perhaps. there was another
tree and from its stock near the
ground. some vigorous shoots of wrist
size appeared. a thought struck him
n tactful thought-a possible father or
Il possible deed. and he ut once pro-
ceeded to put it in execution, for he
knew that the setting sun could bring
no darkness that would enable him
to escape. lie also well knew the
bulldog tenacty of the moose for once
before. lie had been freed. and kept up
III it till, after Il days sojoun III that
peculiar bivouac. his companions had
secured his release. He banked not Mt
all, therefore, on any withdrawal of the
moose's attention. ana so, watching his
chance when the moose in one of his
dAshos slipped well Ivy him in the Op-
posite direction. instead Of stopping be.
hind the same tree. he sprnted 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 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 cle-
incnt Of danger, holding his hunting
knife in his teeth, now took off his
!oosc-titting 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 enemy's 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
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 don-
ble-edged, Pete proceeded to trim off
the supernuOus twigs and upper
growth of that vigorous sprout He
left it about as long as broom handle,
and it was trife larger. Then he
commenced to cut 1t 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, 1t was slow work, but finally,
after several vigorous thrusts with his
staunch and trusty blade, he succeeded
in wrcnching clear and free from its
parent stock that strong, young shoot.
His eye cleaned with hope as he
handled it, hefted it, and measured its
capabilities. After such further trim
ming to smooth its surface as his con-
tinued forest dance would allOW-fOr
the moose got madden yet, apparently.
when even short respite came-he
cut a few small creases like the thread
of n screw around the smaller end,
and shaved one side of it fiat for nearly
six inches. He laid the handle of his
hunting knife upon this tlattened sur
face, and looked carefully for any place
where Il little removal Of wood would
|
bic and then. after a little more par
ing, under circumstances that natur.
ally would take pieces of fingers with
it. bigger hope shone in his eye.
Neither he nor the moose had yet ut
tered sound.
Now Pete took from his brceches
pocket the always-carried buckskin
string, and laying the handle of his
lv'ifc 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 small piece of Nova Scotia
milestone about the size and shape
of package of chewing gum, he
turned the spear point up. as Il woods
man does an axe. and after moistening
the stone with saliva, he piled it in n
lively manner, with apparently as
much nOnchalance as Il barber does
razor to his favorite hone. Many times
he had been obliged to change his pO
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, lie thrust the spear
head around the tree like flash, and
the keen blade went under the bottom
Of his jaw, out of sight innicting n
smarting wound. He followed it 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 moving antlers should
disarm him. AS the moose came up
against the tree, Pete put in his best
work, reaching for the vital throat ar
terry. whose location he knew so wei.
What fool the moose was! His
madness took away his judgment If
he had just stood back little way
from the tree, he would have been
out of Pete's reach, and yet virtually
kept his enemy penned; but his very
madness stood in the way of his own
safety. Pete's really skilful thrusts
were beginning to tell till finally, the
great artery Of the neck, to the JOY Of
our guide, was severed and tide Of
blood, to which the rest had been as
drops, now deluged the ground. The
moose seemed to realize that his time
had come. He stood with all fours
well out from the body, and let the
life blood flow. as he must. 1t was the
speediest. yet gcntlest dissolution of
great living forces. Pete stood TN.
moved. The shadows of natural dark
ness and physical death were settling