oes when illumined by the ever-changing auroras.

However, here was the place sure enough, for some Indians had already
nearly skinned the great animals, and had traced the bullets that had
been fired. Frank's bullet had pierced the heart of the one that had so
quickly dropped in the fight; Alec's had gone through the lungs, and,
though the wound was a mortal one, it did not so suddenly result in
death; hence his ability to make that fearful charge, which was so
promptly stopped by the balls of Mr Ross and Sam, both of which were
taken out of his brain. This was very satisfactory to the boys, and so
they were bracketed with equal honours all round by Mr Ross, much to
their delight, for three nobler, more unselfish lads never chummed
together. The success of one was the success of all, and when one
seemed to fail, or make a miss, the others were uneasy until he was at
the head in the next adventure.

But the question now was, "Where are those young moose calves?" The
Indian watchers could give the boys but little information. All they
knew was that after the auroras faded away in the dark hour just before
dawn they heard them moving about; but they did not frighten them, as
Mr Ross had left orders that they were not to be disturbed, unless some
prowling wolves should appear as though on their trail. None, however,
were heard, and so the Indians had remained very quiet.

So the search for the young moose immediately began, and although it was
prosecuted with a good deal of vigour, still not a sign of the young
animals was discovered. At length Mustagan, who had watched the younger
members of the party at work, said:

"You want to see those calves quick, just wait."

Quietly taking up one of the birch-bark horns, he began softly blowing
into it. The sounds he made were like those of the mother cow when she
calls her young from its secluded retreat, where she has cunningly hid
it away from its many enemies while she is off feeding.

Now high, now low, now prolonged and in different tones, came out from
that great birch-bark horn those peculiar notes, some of which were not
unlike the sounds made by the domestic cow when separated from her calf.
For once in his life Mustagan was a complete failure. For blow as much
as he would--and great were his exertions--no calf appeared in answer to
his calls.

Said Big Tom, who was a famous moose hunter, and who had listened to
Mustagan with a good deal of interest and s