The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-11-04

ing he settled himself in his bed just
as a steer would.
He could not have chosen spot bet
ter suited for US. He was nearly at
the edge of the morass, the open space
between the spruce clump where he
was lying and the rocky foothills be-
ing comparatively dry and not much
over a couple of hundred yards broad;
while some sixty yards from it. and
between It and the hills, was little
hummock, tufted with frs. so as to
afford us just the cover we needed.
Keeping back from the edge of the
morass we were able to walk upright
through the forest. until we got the
point WHARF be vas lying IN a tine
with this httfs kummock. We then
dropped on our hands and knees, and
crept over the soft wet sward, where
there was nothing to make noise.
At last we reached the hummock. and
l got into position for a shot, taking
final look at my faithful 1890 Win
chester to see that all was in order
Peering cautiously through the shield
ing evergreens, / at first could not
make out where the moose was lying
until my eye was caught by the motion
of his big ears, as he occasionally flap
ped them lazily forward. Even then |
could not see his outline; but | knew
where he was, and having pushed my
rifle forward on the moss, snapped
dry twig to make him rise. My veins
were thrilling and my heart beating
with that eager, fierce excitement,
known only to the hunter of big game.
and forming one Of the keenest and
strongest of the many pleasures which
with him go to make up 'the wild JOY
Of living"
AS the sound of the swapping twig
smote his ears the moose rose nimbly
one would not have reckoned in beast
so heavy of body. He stood broadside
to me for a moment, his ungainly head
slightly turned, while his ears twitched
and his nostrils snuffed the air. Draw
ing fine bead against his black hide.
behind his shoulder and two thirds of
his bodys depth below his shaggy
withers, / pressed the trigger He
neither flinched nor reeled, but started
with his regular ground-covering trot
through the spruces; yet I knew he
was mine, for the light blood sprang
! from both of his nostrils, and he fell
A dying on his side before he had gone
4 thirty rods.
Later in the fall was again hunting
among the lofty ranges which continue
towards the southeast the chain of the
Bitter Root, between Idaho and Mon
tana. There were but two Of us, and
we were travelling very light, each hav-
ing but one pack-pony and the saddle
animal he bestrode. We were high
among the mountains, and followed
no regular trail. Hence our course was
often one Of extreme difficulty. Occa-
sionally, we took our animals through
the forest near timber line, where the
i slopes were not too steep; again we
threaded our way through line Of
l glades, or skirted the foothills, in an
open, park country; and now and then
we had to cross stretches Of tangled
mountain forest, making but few
miles a day, at the cost of incredible
toll, and accomplishing even this solely
by virtue of the wonderful docility and
sure-footedness Of the ponies, and of
my companions skill with the axe and
thorough knowledge Of woodcraft.
Late one cold afternoon we came Out
in q high alpine valley in which there
was no sign of any mans having evel
been before u.s. Down its middle rar
clear brook. On each side was 6
belt of thick spruce forest, covering
the lower TANKS of the mountains
The trees came down In points anG
isolated clumps to the brook, the banks
of which were thus bordered with oper
glades, rendering the travelling easy
and rapid.
Soon after starting up this valley VIZ
entered a beaver meadow of consid
cradle size. 1t was covered with lush
rank grass, and the stream WOUND
through it rather sluggishly in lont
curves, which were fringed by thicl
growth of dwarfed willows. In one O.
two places it broadened into small
ponds, bearing few lily-pads. Thi
meadow had been all tramped up b.
moose. Trails led hither and thithe
through the grass, the willow twig
were cropped off, and the mudd.
banks of the little black ponds wer
, indented by hoof-marks. EVIDENT.
, most of the lilies had been plucked
/, The footprints were unmistakable; |
, moose's foot is longer and slimme
than a caribou's, while on the othe
; hand 1t is much larger than an elk's
and a longer oval In shape.
Most of the sign was old, this higl
alpine meadow, surrounded by snow
, mountains, having clearly been a ia
vorite resort for moose In the summer
but some enormous, fresh tracks tol,
, that one or more old bulls were still
t frequenting the place.
I The light was already fading, and
of course, we did not wish to cam
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