autumn, the season of gold and crimson falling leaves, and battles on
the lake-shores under the white full moon--there followed stories of
other moose seen fleeing in terror, with torn flanks and bleeding
shoulders; and it was realized that the prowess of the great moose
bull was worthy of his stature and his adornment. Apparently he was
driving all the other bulls off the Saugamauk ranges.

By this time the matter became of interest to the guides. The stories
gathered in from different quarters, so it was hard to guess just
where the gigantic stranger was most likely to be found. To north and
northeast of the mountain went the two Armstrongs, seeking the
stranger's trail; while to south and southeastward explored the
Crimmins boys. If real, the giant bull had to be located; if a myth,
he had to be exploded before raising impossible hopes in the hearts of
visiting sportsmen.

Then suddenly arrived corroboration of all the stories. It came from
Charley Crimmins. He was able to testify with conviction that the
giant bull was no figment of Indian's imagination or lumberman's
inventive humor. For it was he whose search had been successful.

In fact, he might have been content to have it just a shade less
overwhelmingly successful. That there is such a thing as an
embarrassment of success was borne in upon him when he found himself
jumping madly for the nearest tree, with a moose that seemed to have
the stature of an elephant crashing through the thickets close behind
him. He reached the tree just in time to swing well up among its
branches. Then the tree quivered as the furious animal flung his bulk
against it. Crimmins had lost his rifle in the flight. He could do
nothing but sit shivering on his branch, making remarks so
uncomplimentary that the great bull, if he could have appreciated
them, would probably have established himself under that tree till
vengeance was accomplished. But not knowing that he had been insulted,
he presently grew tired of snorting at his captive, and wandered off
through the woods in search of more exciting occupation. Then,
indignant beyond words, Charley descended from his retreat, and took
his authoritative report in to the Settlements.

[Illustration: "He reached the tree just in time to swing well up among
the branches."]

At first it was thought that there would be great hunting around Old
Saugamauk, till those tremendous antlers should fall a prize to some
huntsman not only lucky but