f which they caught stray peeps through the gaps in an
intervening wall of pines and hemlocks. A few minutes brought them to
its brink. Tired and parched from their journey, each one stooped, and
quenched his thirst with a delicious, ice-cold draught.

"Was there ever a soda-fountain made that could give a drink to equal
that?" said Cyrus, smacking his lips with content. "But listen to the
noise this stream makes, boys. I guess if I were to lie beside it for an
hour, I'd think, as the Greenlanders do, that I could hear the spirits
of the world talking through it."

"That's a mighty queer notion," answered Herb; "and I never knew as
other folks had got hold of it. But, sure's you live! I've thought the
same thing myself lots o' times, when I've slept by a forest stream.
Who'll lend a helping hand in cutting down boughs for our fire and bed?
I want to be pretty quick about making camp. Then we'll be able to try
some moose-calling after supper."

At this moment a peculiar gulping noise in Neal's throat drew the eyes
of his companions upon him. His were bright and strained, peering at the
opposite bank.

"Look! What is it?" he gasped, his low voice rattling with excitement.

"A cow-moose, by thunder!" said Herb. "A cow-moose and a calf with her!
Here's luck for ye, boys!"

One moment sooner, simultaneously with Neal's gulp of astonishment,
there had emerged from the thick woods on the other bank a brown,
wild-looking, hornless creature, in size and shape resembling a big
mule, followed by a half-grown reproduction of herself.

Her shaggy mane flew erect, her nostrils quivered like those of a
race-horse, her eyes were starting with mingled panic and defiance.

A snort, sudden and loud as the report of a shot-gun, made the four
jump. Neal, who was standing on a slippery stone by the brink, lost his
balance and staggered forward into the water, kicking up jets of shining
spray. The snort was followed by a grunt, plaintive, distracted, which
sounded oddly familiar, seeing that it had been so well imitated on
Herb's horn.

And with that grunt, the moose wheeled about and fled, making the air
swish as she cut through it, followed by her young, her mane waving like
a pennon.

"Well, if that ain't bang-up luck, I'd like to know what is," said the
guide, as he watched the departure. "I never s'posed you'd get a chance
to see a cow-moose; she's shyer'n shy. Say! don't you boys think that
I've done her grunt pretty well so