from the right direction to drive the moose toward home and
also toward our sled; and in case, too, that I hit the moose and only
wounded it, the brute would run toward our sled and not take us farther
away from it. Also, my son, if I had merely wounded the beast, but had
seen from the way it flinched that it had been struck in a vital spot,
I would not have followed immediately, but would have sat down and had
a smoke, so as not to further disturb the wounded animal before it had
time to bleed to death. Besides, a mere glance at the trail would tell
me whether or not I had mortally wounded the moose--whether the brute
was hit high or low, and whether the blood was dark or light. If hit
high, the blood would be upon the branches as well as upon the snow; if
the blood was black it would mean that an artery had been severed and
that the moose was mortally wounded. If the latter had happened, then
would be the time for me to get out my pipe and have a smoke."

SKINNING ANIMALS

As we were to be busy for the rest of the day, we made a suitable camp
and started a fire and by that time the moose had stiffened enough for
proper handling while removing the skin. As usual the hunter's first
act was to cut the eyes, then to cut off the head, which he at once
skinned and, removing the tongue, hung the head beside the fire to cook
while we went on with our work.

But while we propped up the moose and got it into good position, three
whiskey jacks (Canada Jays) came, as they always seem to come at the
first sign of smoke, to pay us a visit and partake of the feast. They
are fluffy, heavily feathered little birds of gray, with wings and tail
of darker hue, and with a white spot on their forehead. They are not
unlike the blue jay in their calls and shrieks, though they have some
notes of their own that are of a quieter, softer tone. They are
friendly little beggars that will at times come so near that they may
occasionally be caught in one's hand; but while one likes to have them
about for the sake of their companionship, they will, uninvited, take a
share of anything that is good to eat. They are the most familiar
birds to be seen in the winter forest, and they have a remarkable way
of laying their eggs and nesting in the month of March when the weather
may register from twenty to forty below zero.

In the forest there are several different ways of skinning animals: one
is called "case skinning" and another is called "s