ing much colder, and, for the
last two days the sun had not shone. The sky was of one uniform murky
solemn grey; and everything announced that the winter was close at hand.
Martin who had been hunting, when he came home bid them prepare for an
immediate change in the weather, and his prediction was speedily
verified.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

DANGEROUS NEIGHBOURS.

It was on the Saturday evening, when they had all assembled round the
fire, for it was more cold than it had hitherto been, that the moaning
of the wind among the trees of the forest announced a gale of wind from
the northward.

"We shall have it soon," observed Martin, "winter mostly comes in with a
gale."

"Yes; and this appears as if it would be a strong gale," replied Alfred.
"Hark! how the boughs of the trees are sawing and cracking against each
other."

"I reckon we may get our snow-shoes out of the store-house, John," said
Martin, "and then we shall see how you can get over the ground with them
when you go out hunting. You have not shot a moose yet."

"Is the moose the same as the elk, Martin?" said Henry.

"I do not think it is, sir; yet I've heard both names given to the
animal."

"Have you ever shot any?" said Mrs Campbell.

"Yes, ma'am; many a one. They're queer animals; they don't run like the
other deer, but they trot as fast as the others run, so it comes to the
same thing. They are very shy, and difficult to get near, except in the
heavy snow, and then their weight will not allow them to get over it, as
the lighter deer can; they sink up to their shoulders, and flounder
about till they are overtaken. You see, Master Percival, the moose
can't put on snow-shoes like we can, and that gives us the advantage
over the animal."

"Are they dangerous animals, Martin?" inquired Mary.

"Every large animal is more or less dangerous when it turns to bay,
miss. A moose's horns sometimes weigh fifty pounds, and it is a strong
animal to boot; but it can't do anything when the snow is deep. You'll
find it good eating, at all events, when we bring one in."

"I'll bring one," said John, who was cleaning his rifle.

"I daresay you will, as soon as you can manage your snow-shoes," replied
Martin. "The wind is getting up higher. I guess you'll not find your
way back to Malachi's lodge, Master John, as you thought to do to-morrow
morning."

"It is certainly a dreadful night," observed Mrs Campbell; "and I feel
the cold very sensibly."

"Y