four together rattled as they ran,
as though a string of Christmas crackers had been touched off. I have
often heard a similar cracking from the hoofs of farm-cattle; but with
so many hoofs together, keeping up the fire incessantly, it produced a
very odd impression upon me.

"In a short time they were out of sight, but we could hear the baying of
the dogs as the latter closed upon them, and we followed, guided by the
trail they had made.

"We had skated along for nearly a mile, when the howl of the hounds
began to sound through the woods with more abrupt and fiercer echoes.
We knew by this that the moose had been brought to bay, and we hurried
forward, eager to have a shot.

"On arriving at the place, we found that only the old bull had made
stand, and he was successfully engaged in keeping off the dogs, both
with feet and horns. The others had gone forward, and were out of view.

"The bull, on seeing us approach, once more took the trot, and, followed
by the dogs, was soon out of sight.

"On reaching the spot where he had made his temporary halt, we found
that his trail there parted from that of the other three, as he had
taken almost an opposite direction. Whether he had done so
considerately, in order to lead the dogs away from his weaker
companions, I know not; perhaps our sudden appearance had terrified him
into confusion, and he had struck out without looking before him.

"We did not reflect on these points at the time. My friend, who
probably was thinking more about the meat than the sport, without
halting a moment, followed the trail of the cow and calves; while I,
guided by different motives, took after the bull. I was in too great a
hurry to heed some admonitions which were given by my friend as we
parted company. As our trails separated, I heard him shouting to me to
mind what I was about; but the courses we followed soon carried us
beyond earshot or sight of each other.

"I followed the chase about half a mile farther, guided by the tracks,
as well as by the baying of the hounds. Again this assumed the fierce
angry tone that denoted a battle going on between the dogs and the deer.

"As I neared the spot, the voices of the former seemed to grow feebler;
then there was a continued howling, as if the hounds were being roughly
handled, and one of them I noticed was altogether silent.

"On arriving on the scene, which I did soon after, I learned the cause
of this change of tune. One of the dogs