ort in the
middle of his rush, and you heard nothing?"

"We just did," answered Cyrus. "That was the longest half-hour I ever
put in. What made him do it?"

"I guess he was kind o' criticising my music," said the guide, laughing.
"Mebbe I got in a grunt or two that wasn't natural, and the old boy
wasn't satisfied with his sweetheart's voice. He was sniffing the air,
and waiting to hear more. But 'twasn't more 'n twenty minutes before I
gave the second call, though no doubt it seemed longer to you. A man
must be in good training to get the better of a moose's ears and nose."

"I'm going to get the better of them before I leave these woods!" cried
Dol, who was still puffing and gasping with intense excitement. "I'll
learn to call up a moose, if I crack my windpipe in doing it."

"Hurrah for the Boy Moose-Caller!" jeered Cyrus, with a teasing laugh,
which Neal echoed.

But Herb Heal, who had from the beginning regarded "the kid of the camp"
with favor, suddenly became his champion.

"Don't let 'em down you, Dol," he said. "I hate to hear a youngster, or
a man, 'talk fire,' as the Injuns say, which means _brag_, if he's a
coward or a chump; but I guess you ain't either. Here we are at camp,
boys! I tell you the home-camp is a pleasant sort of place, after
you've been out moose-calling!"

Thereupon ensued loud cheers for the home-camp, the boys feeling that
they were letting off steam, and atoning for that long spell of silence,
which had been a positive hardship. In the midst of an echoing hubbub
the boat was hauled up and moored, and the party reached their log
shelter.

CHAPTER XVII.

HERB'S YARNS.

The following day was spent by our trio in exploring the woods near
Millinokett Lake, in listening to more moose-talk, and in attempting the
trick of calling. Herb gave them many persistent lessons, making the
sounds which he had made on the preceding night, with and without the
horn, and patiently explaining the varied language of grunts, groans,
sighs, and roars in which the cow-moose indulges.

Perhaps the woodsman expended extra pains on the teaching of his
youngest pupil, whom he had championed. And certainly Dol's own talent
for mimicry came to his aid. No matter to what cause the success was
due, each one allowed that Dol made a brilliant attempt to get hold of
"the moose-hunter's secret," and give a natural call.

The boy had been a genius at imitating the voices of English birds and
animals; ma