to exult, with all the inhumanity of a conqueror, over my fallen victim. The warning voice of Joe, who had followed me, crying-"Take care of his hoofs!" prevented me from approaching too near; and Glode having come up, and seeing the animal was not dead, advised me to give him the finishing stroke, at the same time telling me to look out for myself, as they frequently charged upon their pursuers with an expiring effort. Choosing, therefore, a convenient distance, the two Indians having ensconced themselves behind trees, I gave my foe another bullet, which, passing through the shoulder to the region of the heart, at once brought him upon his feet; he staggered, glared wildly around him, as if for a victim, and then, unable to bear up any longer, fell with a crash to the earth. On examination, I found that my first ball had struck him about eight inches below the spine, which it had touched in passing out the other side. Surveying my dead quarry with feelings of, I must say, great satisfaction, I expressed a desire to know his height. Glode immediately, cutting a straight branch from a young tree near, measured the animal, as he lay, from the shoulder to the hoof: his stick, being then placed alongside of Joe, who was six feet in height, overtopped him something more than three inches: the moose's height must, therefore, have been upwards of six feet three inches. The Indians told me he was a young one, about three years old; his antlers (my share of the spoil) were, I was sorry to perceive, but small, and, by repeated conflicts, broken in many places. The axes of my allies soon dissevered the head from the body, and then the process of cutting up began: having taken off the skin, and separated the various joints, they rolled them, with the exception of the haunches, which were reserved for carriage in our canoe, in the animal's skin, and placed them in the branches of a tree, some feet from the ground, that the scent might not so readily attract the bears, with which that part of Nova Scotia is well stocked, but none of which was I fortunate enough to meet with.

The happy termination of the night's labours having restored good humour to the party, and to myself especially, our paddle back to the camp was a little more cheerful than our yesterday's departure from it. For myself, I had accomplished the great object of my pilgrimage-the slaughter of a moose; an animal by far the largest of the deer kind, at all times considered fierce and savage in its nature, and particularly so at the season I write of.

*The moose is described nearly as follows by the historian of Nova Scotia, better known, of late years, as the author of "Sam Slick ":" The moose is the largest animal of our forest, and is generally upwards of sixteen hands high. He is of the deer kind, with palmated horns, weighing from forty to fifty pounds, which are shed annually in February; he has no brow antlers. His head is long, his neck short, ears large and pointed, and nostrils greatly distended. His upperlip, commonly called the moulfe, is very broad and pendant; his legs remarkably long; his tail short; his withers elevated, and covered with a thick hair, like those of the buffalo. There is also a tuft of black hair dependent from his neck; his hoofs are cloven, and, when he trots, the clattering of them is heard at a great distance. His colour is a dark grey, mixed with a brown; his hide is very suitable for leather, being thick and strong, yet soft and pliable; the hair is long and elastic, and proper for mattresses. His flesh is blacker than that of the ox, but tender and delicate, easy of digestion, palateable, and nourishing. He ruminates like the ox, and feeds on moss, on the natural grass of intervales, and on the leaves and tender buds of a species of maple, called moose-wood. When the Indians kill a moose, they carefully preserve the sinews, of which they make the strongest cords; and the tongue and moulfe are sold as great delicacies, from the latter being made

Our return to camp was hailed with much joy. The sharp-sighted son of Glode, a boy of about fifteen, having discovered my trophy, in the shape of the antlers, the news had soon spread, and the whole camp, down to the smallest urchin (Joe's last) were collected on the bank to receive us with their rejoicings. The moose meat, of course, to these wild creatures, was the attraction, as, smoked and dried, it would serve them with a favourite meal for many weeks to come. The skin also has its value, being used for moccassins; while from the hair the expert finger of the Halionian fair produce most pretty specimens of workmanship, in the shape of card-cases, reticules, &c.

You can well suppose that, after so long a fast, we did full justice to Indian fare; some trout, the produce of my rod before starting, with the addition of some moose-steaks-a mark of old Glode's attentionforming a breakfast, or rather tiffin, fit for an alderman.

Having thus feasted, and the object of my journey, as I before mentioned, having been accomplished, I proceeded to get ready for a return to civilized life; and putting up my few traps, and having bid adieu to my wild friends, to whom, I must confess, I had in a manner become attached, amongst whom the lad I have before named, and whose goodwill I had won by giving him some gaudy trout-flies, seemed most disconsolate, and wanted much to know when I should return.

Arrangements having been made by Glode that his squaw and the boy should follow in the morning, and overtake us at a place where it was intended to keep another night's watch, in order that they might assist in carrying to Annapolis some portion of the venison, we started, and commenced our return towards the abode of men.

About midway between Glode's wigwam and his brother's farm, and running back from a small creek in the largest of the lakes already made mention of, was a rushy swamp, extending perhaps a hundred yards towards the wood from the margin of the lake, which it bordered for about the same distance. At the extremity of the creek we stopped our canoe, and, landing, prepared by the shore the evening meal. The cravings of hunger satisfied, our next care was to extinguish our fire, and then moving farther into the swamp, which was at this season perfectly dry, we took up our position at a large rock, which stood alone in the swamp, and about the centre of it; in front of it, towards the wood, were two or three small bushes. Stretched on this rock, and immured in a cloud of tobaccosmoke, I was soon wrapped in strict attention to Glode's exciting account of former successful watches on that very spot. In the hope of a similar result, I awaited patiently the fall of the great light-bearer, who set with a most delicious soup. His gait is an exceedingly fast trot, which he is enabled to prolong for a considerable length of time, and his course through the woods is proverbially straight. In summer, to avoid the annoyance of flies, he frequently wades into the lakes, where he feeds on aquatic grasses and pond-lilies. In winter they form herds, and, when the snow is deep, they describe a circle, and press the earth with their feet until it becomes hard, which is called by the hunters a pen or yard. Here they remain until the snow dissolves, or until they have consumed all the branches or bark suitable for food. As soon as the snow becomes encrusted in March, by alternate thaws and frosts, the Indians go out in quest of them. By the aid of rackets, or snow-shoes, they are enabled to pass over the indurated surface with great ease and dexterity, while the moose, which breaks through the icy crust at every step with his small and pointed feet, wounds his legs and extricates himself with difficulty and fatigue from the holes. In this manner he is wearied out, overtaken, and shot,

a splendour but rarely seen in our foggy isle.

Glode, who only waited

for the retirement of that luminary from the scene to commence his invitations, now set to work, and once again awoke the echoes of the woods. I had from the first, I can well recollect, a notion that the spot on which we then were was better adapted than any of our former posts for calling: the forest encircled us on three sides, while the proximity of the lake would rather induce our gigantic friends to favour the secluded swamp with their presence. So it certainly turned out, for, after perhaps half an hour's calling, the crashing of branches at a distance, followed soon by the never-failing grunt, again told us of the approach of a moose. Cigars laid aside, and our guns ready, Glode and myself (Joe having been sent with the horn a short distance to the rear, for the purpose of bringing the animal nearer to our ambush) waited with impatience for the nearer approach of our nocturnal visitor. In vain, however, was the ruse—in vain the tender notes which our Orpheus, Joe, produced from his novel instrument; the elk "would not listen to the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely." I not understanding his insensibility to the calls of love, I questioned Glode as to the probable cause. He replied " Perhaps he quite young, may be afraid to come. The result proved the correctness of his opinion, for he never came nearer, and at last, from the absence of all sound, appeared to have left us to our solitude.

Having given up, for the present, all idea of a shot, I stowed myself away in the bushes in front of the rock, my gun beside me, and covered with the blanket to shield it from the heavy dew. I had been, perhaps, asleep an hour, when, waking with a start, I distinctly heard the cry of a moose at no great distance from us. Instantly rising, I shook Glode, who lay asleep on the rock, and told him that I heard a moose. "Ah! that same one," he replied. I said I thought not; upon which, rousing himself and listening attentively, he agreed with me that it was a different animal. To account for my opinion, I must tell you that I judged from the different manner in which the one I had just heard advanced, coming on, as he did, with the greatest impetuosity, the falling of trees and crashing of branches attesting the power of his horns. Glode had no sooner come to a conclusion that the animal now advancing was not the same that had at first disturbed us, than he prepared to receive him in a befitting manner: sending Joe to the rear of the rock, with instructions to draw on the elk gradually by low notes, he took his post silently and stealthily beside me in the bushes before the rock. There we waited for some minutes; and the anxiety of the old Indian was so great that, as we stood prepared for our game, he shook as with the palsy, his chin beating audibly and sensibly upon my shoulder. The night, with the exception of the stars, being perfectly dark, I felt rather doubtful about hitting my mark, however large it might be; this fear I whispered to Glode, who merely said that he did not think that I could miss, but, for fear, he would be ready to fire also. The trampling of the huge beast at last proclaimed his departure from the belt of wood which encircled us, while Joe in the distance enticed him on by his alluring calls; at one time, by rubbing the bark horn against a branch, he produced so naturally the sound of antlers striking against a tree, that I whispered Glode there was another moose behind us. He laughed low, and said it was only Joe! These artifices this time succeeded perfectly, for immediately the tramp of the moose quickened into a trot, and the passage of its heavy body through the tall

rushes of the swamp at once showed me it was time to prepare: softly raising my gun, I waited until I saw, or fancied I saw, a huge mass pass before me, at, I suppose, not more than thirty yards; and Glode calling out "Now!" I fired. The animal appeared to stop, for the noise of its passage ceased, and, as the smoke of my gun cleared away before me, I could then see a dark form. Glode, seizing the opportunity as favourable, immediately fired: the result of this shot was now different, for the moose, as if struck, bounded off towards the woods, and we heard him breaking his resistless way through the trees and underwood. Returning to our rock, we there awaited Joe, who presently appeared: the Indians, after a short talk in their own guttural tongue, told me they believed the moose was badly wounded. I then asked, could we not pursue him into the woods? They shook their heads, and said it was too dangerous by night, but that we might follow him at dawn.

Thinking our work for the present to be over, I lighted a cigar, to while away the hour, while my allies kept up their confab in their own lingo. After an earnest conversation of about ten minutes, Joe, addressing me, said—“ Glode thinks, suppose we follow moose to-night, as you are in a hurry to get back to Annapolis." My blood being now a little cooled, I felt that I had just as soon remain where I was; but, having first proposed the venture, I was bound to undertake it. Accordingly, having waited a few minutes longer, listening for our enemy, we started to our feet, and obtaining from Joe my instructions, in case of a charge from the elk

"Mind you fire first, and then run behind a tree"-forth we sallied, led by old Glode, who held on high a huge piece of lighted birch-bark, which shed a brilliant but uncertain light upon the surrounding objects. On arriving at the verge of the wood which encircled the swamp, we formed in skirmishing order, placing our torch-bearer in the centre, and after having penetrated some yards into the bush, were made aware, by the crashing of branches, of our proximity to the elk. Apprehending a charge, we retreated a short distance, and indeed at one time I thought it would have been a case of "sauve qui peut," for my allies did not seem much to relish the sport, Joe, in particular, being very anxious to get me in the van, whether to try my mettle or to save his own, I know not. Everything, after a few seconds, remaining quiet, we again advanced, and at last, guided by the flame of the torch, I discovered the gallant moose, its noble head, crowned with magnificent antlers, thrust forth from a thick bush, in which it seemed to have been lying; its body concealed by the thick boughs, from which, by the position of the fore-legs, thrown out as they were, it now appeared to be rising. Not giving it time to effect its purpose, if such it had been, I fired, and struck him in the neck. Joe, who seemed equally anxious to finish his career, followed up the shot with his own gun; and thus overpowered with wounds, after a few abortive struggles, the monarch of American woods gave up his hard-bought life. Pretty dangerous work, I guess," exclaimed Joe, "torching a moose by starlight!" As for me, having assured myself of the animal's death, I went up to gaze with pleasure on the beautiful antlers which adorned our victim, and which, with the head as before, I requested might be immediately cut from the body. A few strokes of Joe's keen axe soon accomplished this; and a convenient space having been cleared round the body, and a fire lighted to leeward of it, the operation of quartering began; while overhead the torch, stuck in the

cleft of a neighbouring tree, threw its bright yet flickering light upon the scene. And that scene was one indeed so wild, that to portray it, the pencil even of a Salvator Rosa would not have been unworthily employed. The huge form of the moose (a very large one) lying majestic even in death, bending over it the dark forms of the Indians, their knives in hand, about to begin their bloody work, while the now-blazing fire shed its partial light for a moment over the fantastic forms of the surrounding trees, and then leaving them in darkness, brought fully to view the striking visages of the Micmacs, as with a grim smile they began to bury their knives in the carcass of the dead. As they pursued their wonted butchery, they talked and laughed in their harsh and uncouth language, occasionally addressing me, and, in answer to my questions concerning the age of the animal and its height, they told me they considered him about seven years old, in weight perhaps 900lbs., and taller by some inches than the one slain the previous morning. Having completed the operation of cutting up the body of the noble moose, which but a short hour before had ranged, full of strength and fire, its native wilds, Joe was despatched with the canoe to Glode's camp, with directions to bring, by dawn, Glode's squaw and his young nephew with the other canoe, in order that Joe and the boy might get the venison as quickly as possible into camp, while old Glode and his wife should carry my various traps, now not a little reduced in bulk, together with the moose-horns, to Annapolis.

The excitement of the night thus over, and having passed the three previous nights on the open ground, I was not sorry again to place myself under the shelter of our original cover, and, wrapped in my friendly blanket, soon courted, and not without success, the favours of the uncertain god.

Joe in the morning appeared, according to his instructions, accompanied by the squaw and my young friend. He told me, however, with a very grave face, that he had forgotten the horns of the young moose I had first killed, but that he would bring them to Annapolis in two or three days: I never saw them more. Leaving him and his youthful companion the task of provisioning their camp with the moose venison, Glode, his squaw, and myself took our departure in one of the canoes, and again traversed the lakes through which we had passed on leaving the chief's farm, a few days before. No variety or incident tended to chequer the tedious sameness of our return voyage, and about noon I found myself at Charles Glode's farm. Glode and his wife, encumbered, the former with the moose-head and horns (weight, upwards of 1 cwt.), while the latter bore upon her shoulders the whole of my kit, a small carpet-bag which I carried excepted, had not yet come up; so, entering the wigwam, I endeavoured, though in vain, to make known to the two wild-looking young creatures who tenanted it that I wished very much to have some tea. Finding all my efforts useless, I gave up, and, stretched in the shade, waited patiently the arrival of my companions, to obtain the desired beverage. Glode and his cara sposa at last appearing, I was soon indulged with a most refreshing cup of Bohea; and, thus invigorated, prepared to pursue my way to the city of Queen Anne. Upon reaching the paddock in which my little steed had been revelling since my departure, I found that his quarters had been so much to his liking, that no inducement on my part could prevail upon him to sur