The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-12-17
o ,gEgR1LED MOOtE ~

like huge black ghost through the
fallen forest. He was getting further
and further away; but, at last, Just as
he reached the green timber. at about
one hundred and thirty yards, he
showed clear for a moment, when,
holding well forward, | pulled. At
the shot he half spn around, then
plunged forward and was lost to view,
You hit him-shure," said the ex-
cited Albert, setting off at pace |
could not follow.
We came to the forest edge and
found plenty of blood and then started
much against my will on the trail of
the wounded one. | wanted to wait
half an hour, but Albert felt sure he
was well hit and that we should md
the bull dead at no great distance.
We stumbled over some bad ground
and could hardly breathe. Presently
| fell over log from exhaustion, and
Nature told me ever so plainly that
| was in no condition to 60 moose
hunting. Albert had run ahead when
| fell, but presently returned saying
he feared the moose was hit low and
might goAfor miles before lying down.
So handed him my rifle and told him
to go and not come back without that
moose.
had never done such a thing be-
fore and hope | never shall again
But there 1t was-I had to acknowI.
edge partial defeat. In about an hour
made my way back to the Dease
lake trail and, following the tracks of
the horse, reached camp much ex-
hausted. 1t was nearly midnight when
Albert announced his arrival with a
ringing whoop. A great tongue hang.
ing round his neck spoke plainly Of
success 1t was the usual tale Four
times had he jumped the wounded
one, and then, after no fewer than
seven hours continuous tracking, he
had come on the moose lying exhaust
ed, and killed him.
, The following day was spent in re-
trieving the head and as much meat
as a horse could carry We worked
far into the night cleaning the head,
which was a nice, massive one of no
| great measurements, and attending to
[ the scalp. The weather was now de,
lightful; just little frost at night
and warm sun for the greater part of
the day. 1t appeared that several
, large bull moose were frequenting the
, Tanzilla valley in the vicinity Of the
river. We had not proceeded far on
, the 18th when we suddenly came upon
a fresh track. This Albert and | at
r once followed, sending on Jimmy with
the horses and with orders to camp
, within three miles If we did not re-
turn by midday. The bull led us at
once down the hill to the river and
after few wanderings, it struck
across at a shallow ford. AS this
would entail a wetting to the middle
| funked it in my state of health, sc
: we retreated by making short cut
back to the trail Here we at once
found the fresh track of the largest
. bull moose had ever seen.
Albert seemed to go slower and
slower, till at last he stopped and
STOPPING down, peered under the
. bushes towards a little clearing.
looked, too, and saw some dark object
=, there which caused me to cock my
o rifle at once. took a step forward
and at once saw an immense bull
- moose lying under small spruce
. within thirty yards. His head wa!
= lowered and his almost white antler.
= looked like the branches of rotter
- tree. | saw that the latter were wide
. and very broad In the palms and a
once raised my rifle to shoot. The
sudden movement attracted his atten
y ton and he lurched heavily to his feet
whereupon at once put bullet be
' hind the shoulder. He gave ont
plunge forward and was in the act o
falling when a second ball penetrated
. his heart
My moose was beauty. Man.
larger have been killed in Cassiar
. and though not very wide, the horn
T. were very thick and the palms Of con
= siderable breadth. 1t was such
trophy as | had often longed to pos
! sess, and now having got 1t, fel
D. that my journey was not failure
= after all.
]. G. MILLAIS