Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1909-04-23

not when he stood. After some turn
ing he settled himself in his bed just
MS n steer would
He could not have chosen a spot bet
ter suited for us. He was nearly al
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 Il couple Of hundred yards broad
between 1t and the hills, was a little
hummock, tufted with frs. so as tc
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 where he was lying In a line
with this little hummock. We then
dropped on our hands and knees, and
crept over he soft, wet sward, where
there was nothing to make a noise.
At last we reached the hummock, and
I got'into position for shot taking a
final look at my faithful 1870 Win.
chester to see that all was in order.
ing evergrecns. I 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 l knew
where he WAS. and having pushed my
rife forward on the moss. snapped a
dry twg 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
to his feet. with lightness on which
one would not have reckoned In beast
SO heavy of body He stood broadside
to me for moment, his ungainly head
slightly turned, while his ears twitched
and his nostrls snuffed the air Draw
Ing fine 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 fiinched 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
dying on his side before he had gone
thirty rods.
Later in the fall l 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
slopes We're not too steep; again We
threaded our way through line OF
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 a high alpine valley in which there
was no sign Of any mans having ever
been before us. Down It's middle ran
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 after starting up this valley we
entered beaver meadow Of consid-
cradle size. 1t was covered with lush,
rank grass, and the stream wound
through 1t rather sluggishly In long
curves. which were fringed by thick
growth Of dwarfed willows. In one or
two places It broadensd into small
ponds, bearing few lily-pads. This
meadow had been all tramped up by
moose. Trails led hither and thither
through the grass, the willow twigs
were cropped of, and the muddy
banks Of the little black ponds were
indented by hoof-marks. Evidently
most OF the lilies had been plucked.
The fo0tnrintS were YJnmintA IN l,Ie. a