CHAPTER XXII
THE DEATH OF THE BULL MOOSE
SEEN for the first time in all their experience as hunters of big game,the animal that stood there facing the two boys was remarkable enoughto arouse their interest to fever pitch.
Tawny of hue, and possessing an enormous muzzle, together with toweringhorns, the giant moose filled Roger with a sense of exaltation.The hunter instinct within the boy set his heart to beating like atrip-hammer, and his fingers involuntarily gripped his gun, his firstinstinct being to make use of the weapon.
The moose evidently did not suspect their presence nearby. So far asappearances went, the big, awkward animal was showing no signs of alarm.
Roger hastily threw his rifle up to his shoulder, and, withoutbothering to take exact aim, pulled the trigger. He never really knewwhy he did not drop the beast as he expected to do. It might be becausethis weapon did not compare with his own, which had been carriedoff by the treacherous Andrew Waller at the time the two boys wereprisoners of the Dacotahs.
Dick, however, believed that the moose bull must have made aninvoluntary movement just about that time. Roger's hasty action, or theglint of the sun on the gun barrel, would be enough to bring such athing about.
The one important fact was that, instead of killing his intended quarryon the spot, Roger had the chagrin of seeing the animal stumble andfall, to scramble immediately to his feet again, and make a viciousplunge forward in their direction.
Dick of course knew that it was his duty to get in the fatal shot.He thrust his rifle forward, and had it not been for an unfortunatemovement on the part of his companion his bullet would have finishedthe monster.
In jumping back, however, Roger happened to knock against the leveledrifle just as his chum pressed the trigger. The result was a wastedbullet, and, with both their weapons empty and useless, a seriousoutlook faced the two young hunters.
"Jump to one side!" shouted Dick, realizing that the enraged moose wascharging them, with lowered head, and threatening horns.
Both boys threw themselves back, and in this manner successfullyavoided the passing danger.
They knew that a wounded stag is often a peril from which even veteranhunters shrink; and it stood to reason that this enormous animal,feeling the pain of his injury, would not run away in a hurry afterhaving made one unsuccessful charge.
Both boys glanced hastily around, seeking a tree behind which to wardoff an attack. Dick was fortunate enough to find one close at hand, butRoger met with his usual ill luck to start with.
The moose, as though sensing which one of his enemies had given himthat burning injury, took after Roger, and the boy, hearing thetrampling of his hoofs as he came rushing on, became a little confused.
"Run, Roger, run faster!" shrilled Dick, who began to fear for thesafety of his cousin.
There were surely grounds for his alarm, for, just at that moment,Roger caught his foot in some trailing vine and plunged forward. Withwonderful adroitness, however, the border boy managed to regain hisfeet, and face the oncoming moose bull.
It was too late for him to continue his flight, and there did notseem to be even time enough for the boy to scramble out of harm'sway. Dick's heart burned within him with fear. He would have giveneverything he possessed in the wide world if just then his gun wereonly loaded and primed, ready for use.
Roger, however, saw that there was immediate need for action, and hetook a strange way of meeting the occasion. Dick, staring at the scene,saw his chum suddenly leap toward the oncoming moose bull. He actuallyflung himself upon that great, lowered head, falling between thetowering horns, and hastened to clasp his arms about the animal's thickneck.
This act plainly greatly astonished the beast, and he stood stock stillfor a brief interval.
Dick's one fear was that the moose should set off at a lumbering pacethrough the woods, and bring up against some tree with such force asto break the sprawling legs of the clinging boy. He himself was tryingin a confused fashion to get a charge of powder down the barrel of hisgun, instinct telling him that, once he managed to reload the weapon,the game would be in his hands.
Now the moose was trying to dislodge Roger by tossing up his head.Each time he made the effort Dick held his breath in suspense, for theboy's hold was precarious, and might give way at any moment. It wasapparently the intention of the bull to shake him loose in this way,and, after the boy dropped back to the ground, to trample him underfootbefore he could recover sufficiently to get out of the way.
Sometimes strange things happen in cases like this. The moose must haveput an additional amount of energy into one of his tosses, for Dicksuddenly saw Roger's form rising several yards in the air, and crashamidst the leaves of the tree under which this performance was takingplace.
The moose waited for the fall of his enemy in order to use those cruelhoofs of his in the final attack. But, remarkable to say, Roger did notcome down, and Dick suddenly realized that his nimble chum had takenadvantage of his lofty flight to lay hold of the branches of the tree,and to cling there as best he could.
Dick felt like giving vent to a shout when he realized that, so faras Roger was concerned, the danger could be considered over. He wasnow reaching for a patched bullet, and hoped with his ramrod to pushit quickly home on the powder, when he would be ready, all but thepriming, to make good use of his rifle.
Roger saw what was going on so close by, and commenced kicking with hisfeet, and letting out a few derisive shouts, aimed at the waiting moosebelow. He intended to hold the attention of the bulky animal so Dickcould have all the time he needed to get the gun loaded.
The plan worked splendidly, for the stupid animal below kept steadyvigil under the limb where all that thrashing was going on. He snortedwith rage, and pawed the earth with one of his hoofs, as if giving anearnest example of what he meant to do when the strange enemy droppedto the ground.
There was nothing to hinder Dick from completing his loading, and, ashe shook the priming powder into the pan and prepared to fire, he feltsorry only for one thing. This was the fact that Roger could not bethe one to bring about the death of the kingly moose, since his heartseemed to have been so set on accomplishing such a valorous deed.
It was more because he must save the life of his chum than through adesire for the death of the monster moose that caused Dick finally topull trigger, after he had found a chance to aim back of the animal'sforeleg.
The shot was instantly fatal, for those long-barreled rifles of pioneerdays were capable of sending a bullet with tremendous force. The bigbeast fell with a crash, and immediately afterwards a loud hurrah fromRoger announced that he gloried in the successful outcome of theiradventure.
It was easy enough for the nimble boy to drop from his perch. He limpeda little, and had a few minor bruises to show for his close contactwith those horns of the bull moose. On the whole, however, Rogerconsidered that he had been very lucky. Dick told him that he felt thesame, as they stood beside the fallen monarch of the forest, and notedhis powerful frame and muscles.
It was impossible to think of taking those towering horns back withthem, since they would have no way of carrying the trophy save on oneof their horses; and that was utterly out of the question.
"I feel a little sorry we had to kill the poor beast," admitted Dick,"much as any hunter might be proud of bringing down such big game. Buthis flesh is far too tough for food, and we can never dream of takingthose horns with us."
"Well, he looked as if he wanted to fight as soon as he saw us there,"said Roger. "That was one reason I shot as quickly as I did. But, whileI had most of the fun, the glory remained for you, Dick."
"If you call that sort of thing fun, Roger, I don't admire your taste,that's all I can say! When I saw him rushing at you with his headlowered I felt a cold chill run up and down my back, for I thought youwere gone."
"I don't know just what made me fasten to his horns the way I did,"explained Roger, with a broad grin; "but something seemed to tell methat was my only ch
ance, and I guess it was, too."
"How did you feel when going through the air?" questioned the other,able to smile now at the odd spectacle Roger had presented, although atthe time it had seemed a serious thing indeed.
"About as near like flying as I ever expect to know," admitted Roger."And, just as soon as I found myself in the midst of the branches ofthat tree, why something made me take hold and stick there. I seemedto know the old fellow was waiting down below to trample me into bitsif I dropped back, and I wasn't meaning to oblige him if I could helpit."
"We might manage to chop off one of his hoofs with our knives to showwhen we get back to camp, and prove that we really killed a moose,"suggested Dick.
"That is a good idea," agreed his cousin; and it did not take them longto carry the plan out. After this they left the spot, and resumed theirhunt, Roger having recovered and loaded his rifle.
They were a little afraid lest the sound of the gunshots might havecaused any deer happening to be in the vicinity to take the alarm andflee. This would be too bad, after setting their hearts on procuring asupply of fresh meat.
It turned out, however, that the deer did not know the deadlysignificance of the firing of a gun, for within twenty minutes afterleaving the dead bull moose, the boys started a deer, and Roger thistime managed to do himself justice when he pulled trigger, for theyoung stag bounded high in the air to fall in a quivering heap.
There was ample time to cut the game up and make their way back tocamp with their prize. Nor did they have the slightest difficulty ingaining the spot where the expedition had planned to spend the comingnight, thanks to Dick's way of keeping his bearings when on a hunt.
These little side excursions were always in great favor with the twoboys. In carrying them out they were really killing two birds with onestone; for they not only saw considerable of the country, and met withadventures that pleased their love of action, but at the same time theywere able to keep the camp well supplied with fresh meat.
When they got back on this particular afternoon they found that therewas an Indian in the camp with whom Captain Lewis was making termslooking to his serving them as guide until the lofty mountain range hadbeen crossed. It was of prime importance that they find that pass, andcross over at the lowest possible level. Once the lower ground on theother side was reached, they could congratulate themselves that theworst was over.
At the ending of the next day they found themselves at the actual footof the mountains, of which they hoped to commence the ascent with theadvent of another morning.
The Pioneer Boys of the Columbia; or, In the Wilderness of the Great Northwest Page 25