y the terrific shock. He himself drew
back a pace or two, and then stopped and stood fast, eyeing the tree
with sullen rage; his eyes glared, and his long stiff hair seemed to
quiver as he threatened.

"In the hope that he would allow me time, I again bethought me of
re-loading my gun. What was my chagrin to find that I had not a grain
of powder about me! My friend and I had started with but one
powder-flask, and that he had carried with him. My gun was as useless
as a bar of iron.

"What was to be done? I dared not, approach the bull with my knife: my
life would not have been worth five minutes' purchase. His horns and
great sharp hoofs were weapons superior to mine. He might throw me down
at the first outset, gore me to death, or trample me in the snow. I
dared not risk such an encounter.

"After reflecting for some time, I concluded that it would be wiser for
me to leave the moose where he was, and take the back track without him.
But how was I to get away from the spot? I was still behind the tree,
and the enraged bull was within three feet of it on the other side,
without showing any symptoms of retiring. Should I step either to one
side or the other, he would launch himself upon me, and the result would
be my certain destruction.

"I now began to perceive that I was in a fix--regularly `treed,' in
fact; and the knowledge was anything but cheering. I did not know how
long I might be kept so; perhaps the moose might not leave me at all, or
until hunger had done its work. The wound I had given him had certainly
rendered him desperate and vengeful, and he appeared as if determined to
protract the siege indefinitely.

"After remaining nearly an hour in this situation, I began to grow angry
and impatient. I had shouted to frighten the bull, but to no purpose; I
had shouted, and at the top of my voice, in hopes that I might be heard
by my friend, but there was no response except the echoes of my own
voice borne hoarsely through the aisles of the winter forest. I grew
impatient of my odd captivity, and determined to stand it no longer.

"On stealing a glance behind me, I perceived a tree as large as the one
which sheltered me. I resolved to make for that one, as it would at
least not render my situation worse should I reach it in safety. This I
effected, but not without having my speed put to the test, for the moose
followed so close as almost to touch me with his brow-antlers. Once
behind this new