Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-05-23

cover.
The baby moose was not so help
lessly young, however, as had ap-
peared at first sight. Time and again
Polly, who was the swiftest runner,
almost had a hand upon the calf,
and then by a sudden burst OF speed
it shot ahead and out of reach. The
chase grew hotter and more excit-
ing, until suddenly pursued and pur-
sures broke through cluster OF
bushes and out upon a narrow sand
beach. where light waves were rolling
in.
The sand was deep, and the young
moose, feeling it's feet sinking, stop
ped and thrust it's nose down be-
tween its fore legs.
In a twinkling Polly had thrown
herself upon the calf, which, Justify
believing, bounced up and down and
forward, developing surprising
strength. With Polly clinging round
it's neck, the animal plunged and
lunged, dragging her into the water
before the other girls, whom she had
up with her.
Polly, who could swim we'll in bath
ing-dress, had little fear of the wa
ter, and when the calf tumbled her
over shelving bar and into the
deep water, she felt no alarm. she
chung to the calf, persistently deter
mined to conquer and bring it to land.
The little moose proved nearly as
strong, although not quite as unman-
ageable, in the water as on the land.
Polly's quickly formed plan to turn
the Calls head about and force 1t
to land, where George and Anna
could help to secure it, would undoub-
tedly have worked out safely but for
an unforeseen incident.
Polly had turned the moose calf
about and was steering it partly to-
ward the shore when she heard a
shout Of alright from the girls on
shore.
She looked up, to see her comrades
fleeing about the beach and a huge
creature, which was unquestlonaOly
the mother moose, splashing toward
her in a shower of spray.
Polly, hanging to the calf, was not
greatly alarmed, even though the big
animal swan with Iusty strokes TO-
ward her.
"She cannot hurt me in the water"
thought Polly But the powerful
creature came on with the force of
a steam-launch, her great brown eyes
fixed upon her struggling calf, and
wholly Inheeding Polly black head
bobbing beside it.
When the big moose drove against
them, Polly suddenly felt herself
borne upward and outward upon the
crest of wave, and with the be-
numbing sensation of a hard stroke
upon her left arm. The COW had
suddenly realized that some creature
was holding her calf, had reared her
self in the water, and struck blindly
to be rid of the enemy.
Polly went under and came up,
strangling. Then, frantically grasp
ing with her free hand, she found
her fingers clinched in the coarse
hair of the big moose's flank, and
there she knew she must cling if
she wished to keep the breath OF
life in her body.
Instead of turning toward shore.
the cow moose, gathering her calf
within the shelter of her neck and
shoulder, pushed straight away for
the west shore of the lake. 1t was
about two miles and half to the
dense pine woods of the Chippewa
reservation
The COW, swimming with powerful
strokes, did not seem to note the drag
behind her. Polly, startled now be-
yond measure, raised her head and
looked back, to see Anna wringing
her hands and George frantically
gesticulating on the beach. Polly's
left hand was yet too benumbed
for use; and had it been otherwise,
she was now too far out to attempt,
encumbered as she was with heavy
skirts, to swim ashore.
So she raised her voice and shout
ed directions.
GO after the boat" she cried.
run straight out to the north and
catch is on the first tack!"
Instantly the two fled to obey her
order. They ran round on the wide
beach
1t took Polly but a few moments
to determine that the water was too
cold for her long endurance; and
presently, feeling the numbness 60
ing out of her arm, she made a fierce
effort, and mounted upon the moose's
neck. The weight suddenly thrown
upon her seemed for the first time
to give the mother moose a notion
of the encumbrance attached to her.
The animal snorted shrilly and
struggled in real fright, trying vainly
to get out from under her burden.
| She threshed the water in giant
strokes, swayed her body, and sank
ner tanks until she nearly stood on
end in her frantic endeavor to rid