The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-03-16

gnaShng his teeth with a loud chOD.
ping noise. Then Ellis heard a sudden
startled "WhOSh" There was a bel
low cut short and n rattling crash of
locking antlers. The distant enemy
must have crept up silently, made a
circuit TO approach his antagonist
down wind and then charged.
In spite Of straining his eyes. Ellis
could see nothing but the noise was
enough. Trees and shrubs crashed
apart rs the giant animals wrestlcd
aud swayed through the woods with
Siertorous snOrts and gaspS for breath.
The huge prongs crashed together con
tinualIy. Ellis thought that the fight
erS were equally matched, but sud
denly one of them broke away, ran
down To the head # the pond, and
Splashcd into the water.
The other followed, with terrific
and triumphant blast, and the battle
was resumed in the shallow water.
with sounds like the dying furry Of
whale. Ellis could resist it no long
cr The idea of obtaining so unique
a photograph was too much for him.
and he sat up in the canoe and pushed
out.
The slight current Of air toward him.
ana the noise of the fight covered his
movements. The distance was about
Hfty yards, and The focus Of his camera
was fixed for a hundred feet.
The canoe tossed violently on the
~
he had glidcd short distance. there
was a tremendous splash. noise of
nOundcrng. and scream like that of
n wounded horse. one Of the bulls
had gone down.
Ellis gave two more strong paddle
strokes, shipped the paddle. and poised
his camera. The terrific threshing in
the water continued and he sighted
for The spot as accurately as n. could.
waited a moment, and then with trcm-
bling fingers pulled the trigger of the
naShguu.
In his excitement hc did not hear
the report. The gun was heavily loaded
with Ha>b-poHlr lrr for outdoor work.
ana in the mOrrutary. vivid white
glare he saw the dark forest. the dark
water and a giant black animal stand
ing with hCaG turned SuSpiciouSly to-
warl him above -omcthing that was
hidden in smother Of spray.
Black darkness followed. ana with
it came an appalling below from the
bull. and Ellis heard the sound of
plunge toward him. The brute had
sighted his new enemy in the fash,
ana the killing fever was upon him.
Ellis caught up The paudlc. spun the
canoe round, aud shot away blindly
in tie inky darkness. He could hear
the bull apparently about dozen
yards behind, coming with great
bounds through the water. But in
few strokes the canoe collidcd violently
with some t,hin@ solid. Ellis lost his
balance. pitched forward, and went
helpless overheard and under water.
As his head bobbcd ny. he heard the
smash of TIL moose putting a forefoot
through the canoe. He divcd. trying
To swim under water. and r,n against
the Jagged surface of one of the hcJv-
cr-houscS, which was, in fact. the OBJ
Staclc upon which he had been
wrecked. The bull charged him with
rush. and sharp hOot grazcd his leg.
In the muddy bottom of the pond he
h.undcrcd into what seemed sort OF
trench. 1t led TO the beaver lodge. and
a> he brushed against the briStling sur.
face of knots and sticks, he felt an
opening near the bottom. 1t was the
hole that had been cut Ia enlarge the
entrance of the raidcd lodge, and with
choking desire 10 take refuge any
where. he thrust himself inside.
His head burst through a light floor
Ing foot above the water rs he raised
it.. 1t was pitch dark Lifting his
hand, he felt the rough roof close
above him. The water came nearly
20 his armpitS rs he squatted. and It
was very cold. The air was damp and
surchargcd with animal odorS.
He could hear the moose spla Shing
about outside, probably puzzled at its
victims disappearance. Occasionally
there was a sharp blow upon the roof
Of the lodge. but il was thick and
solid, built of mud and interviewer
branches.
As his fright passed of little.
! Ellis felt about the interior of his
refuge with much curiosity. The walls
were rough and Splintcry. and a grea;
number of small sticks were floating
about. Above the light flooring that
he had broken through appeared 10
have been thc main living groom of the
family. for there was a quantity ot
dry grass arranged rs il for a nest
As nearly as he could Judge. the place
was about four feet in diameter.
He felt sure that the moose did moi
know where = was, for the animal
was wading about from one lodge tC
another. smiling loudly at each. Pres
emily he might return TO finish his for
mer antagonist, Ellis thought and