The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-07-30
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THEODORE ROOSEVELT
THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Idly foS Some moidents. how and then
lazily cropping a mouthful Of twig tips.
Then he walked OF with great strides
In straight line across the marsh.
among the wet waterp plants.
and ploughing through Doggy spaces
with the indifference begotten OF vast
and legs longer than those OF
any other animal on this continent.
After a while he reached q sprure
island. through which he walked to
in no resting-place quite to his mind.
for he soon left and went on to anoth-
err Here after q little wandering he
chose a point where there was some
thick young growth, which hid him
from view when be lay down, though
not when he stood. After some turn
Ing he settled himself in his bed just
as a steer would.
He could not have chosen q 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 muck
over q couple Of hundred yards broad:
while some sixty yards from 1t. and
between II ana the hills, was a little
tufted with frs. SO as to
afford us just the cover we needed.
Keeping back from the edge of the
through the forest. until we got the
point where he was lying in line
with this little hummock. We then
dropped On our hands and knees, and
crept over the soft, wet sward. where
there was nothing 70 make noise.
At last We reached the hummock. and
I got into position for a shot. taking
nnal look at my faithful $3.50 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, rs he occasionally dap
ped them lazily forward. Even then l
could not see his outline: but l knew
where he was, and having pushed my
rife forward on the moss. snapped q
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.
strongest Of the many pleasures which
with him 60 to make mp ''the wild Joy
Of living"
As the sound Of the swapping twig
smote his ears the moose rose nimbly
to his feet, with a lightness on which
one would not have reckoned In a beast
30 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 a nne bead against his black hide.
behind his shoulder and two thirds Of
his body's depth below his shaggy
withers, I pressed the trigger. He
neither finched nor reeled. but started
with his regular ground-covering trot
through the sprucee: yet knew he
was mine. for the light blood sprang
from both Of his nostrils. and he fell
dying on his side before he had gone
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-
siona1ly. we took our animals through
the forest near timber line. where the
slopes were not too steep; again we
threaded our way through q line Of
glades. or skirted the foothills. in All
open, park country: and now and then
we had to cross stretches Of tangled
mountain forest. making but a few
miles . day, Mt the cost of incredible
toll, and accomplishing even this solely
by virtue Of the wonderful dociity and
Indebtedness Of the ponies. and Of
lny 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 ever
been before US. Down its middle ran
4 clear brook. On each side was a
belt Of thick spruce forest, covering
the lower tanks of the mountains.
The trees came down In points and
isolated clumps to the brook, the banks
Of which were thus bordered with open
glades. rendering the travelling easy
and rapid.
Soon hitter starting up this valley we
entered q beaver meadow Of consid.
cradle size. 1t was covered with lush
rank grass, and the stream wound
through it rather sluggishly In long
curves. which were fringed by q thick
growth Of dwarfed willows. In one Of
two places 1t broadened into small
ponds. bearing few lily-pads. This
meadow had been all tramped up by
moose Trails led hither and thithel
through the grass. the willow twigl
were cropped of. and the muddy
banks OF the little black ponds wers
indented by hoof-marks. Evidently
most Of the lilies had been plucked