Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-12-07
THE PHANTOM MOOSE.
A Tale from the Maine Hunting Camp
Why He Never Got Moose.
&c. Newbali rosg. in LEWISTON Jourrai.l

ssI'm always keen on hunting said the
Kennebecker, knocking the ashes out OF
his pipe against the great chimneypiece,
land I've brought down few deer in my
day, but I've never got = moose yet.
Never expect to, either, though I've seen
one at close range enough to get good
shot. Twas 40 contrived that luck didn't
come my way.
"Unele Heman Whipple was with me
when sighted that moose. You've all
heard OF him. Everybody up here knew
Uncle Heman. Ii was in the fall just
about this time when came up to do
some surveying on Bow town. Land
boundaries weren't too plainly staked out
fifty years ago, and l wanted to make sure
OF my lines. After got through ! went
to Jackman to look after my scslers- That,
was before folks came here much for the
hunting, and the only camps were the
lumber camps.
at was early Indian summer weather,
warm as mid August, and Uncle Heman
and stayed out on the hill near his farm
talking OF all sorts Of things, the way
folks will sometimes. It's strange, the
queer things that happen up here straight
along. They always have and guess they
always will. Uncle Heman had been
round 50 many years that he knew every
thing that ever got loose in the woods
since the world began.
ave raked up the spook Of that woman
that haunts the Squsw, the lost French
man up on the siisery and that queer float
ing canoe on the Enchanted, and lot
more OF the same kind Of creepy stun, and
while we sat there the moon came up till
everything was light ~ day.
ave were right on the edge OF the
clearing, near the Jackman trail, ard
pretty soon after moonrise, out from the
heavy timber where the shadows lay
thicxest burst big bull moose, heading
straight our way. He was smiling the AIR
as il he smeit humans, and was so scared
that all could do was to stare open
mouthed and clutch Uncle Heman by the
arm. ! must have grabbed him pretty
hard, for he tried to pull away and
whispered, 'Leggo my arm
when the moose swept by, that's just
the way he went, he was so close that l
could have touched him, but the queer
thing was for all he was so big and fierce
looking when he passed, could see right
through him to a clump Of pines that
stood beyond.
"'That critter won't hurt ye,' Uncle
Herman said, soothingly. It's the ghost
moose, and tits bad luck TO see him.
You'll never get moose, son. I've seen
him q good many times and Pve never got
. shot at . moose yet
mo more did, said the man from the
Kenneb bee. II wasn't so keen for one then,
but I've tried since, and always think OF
what Uncle Heman said. never saw the
great ghost moose after that, but Uncle
Heman said be often saw it in the fall o.
the year, coming out OF the woods just at
moonrise., That sometimes it seemed SO
clever he'd try to touch it, but never
found anything there.
ale was true prophet, and after seeing
that ghost moose fash by in the moon
light, never was able to get shot 1t the
real thilg," iamented the Kennebecker,
turning to his pipe for consolation.
Amid the downpour outside sounded
the crash of broken branches and then
the tbud of some animal thrown against
the door Of the camp.
"The moose ghost" cried the tender
foot; but it was only stray lamb from
the camp flock at the farm. The guides
rubbed him down and tucked him away
in the corner TO dry on.