tation.

"Now, Herb," said Garst, "we want to think of nothing but moose for the
remainder of this trip; so go ahead, and give us some moose-talk
to-night. Begin at the beginning, as the children say, and tell us
everything you know about the animal."

Herb Heal swung himself to and fro upon his plank seat, drawing his pipe
reflectively, and letting its smoke filter through his nostrils, while
he prepared to answer.

"Well," he said at last, slowly, "it seems to me that a moose is a
troublesome brute to tackle, however you take him. It's plaguy hard for
a hunter to get the better of him, and if it's only knowledge you're
after, he'll dodge you like a will-o'-the-wisp till you get pretty mixed
in your notions about his habits. I guess these English fellows know
already that he's the largest animal of the deer tribe, or any other
tribe, to be seen on this continent, and as grand game as can be found
on any spot of this here earth. I hain't had a chance to chase lions an'
tigers; but I've shot grizzlies over in Canada,--and that's scarey work,
you better b'lieve!--and I tell you there's no sport that'll bring out
the grit and ingenuity that's in a man like moose-hunting. Now, boys,
ask me any questions you like, an' I'll try to answer 'em."

"You said something to-day about moose 'crunching twigs,'" began Neal
eagerly. "Why, I always had a hazy idea that they fed on moss
altogether, which they dug up in the winter with their broad antlers."

"Land o' liberty!" ejaculated the woodsman. "Where on earth do you city
men pick up your notions about forest creatures--that's what I'd like to
know? A moose can't get its horns to the ground without dropping on its
knees; and it can't nibble grass from the ground neither without
sprawling out its long legs,--which for an animal of its size are as
thin as pipe-stems,--and tumbling in a heap. So I don't credit that yarn
about their digging up the moss, even when there's no other food to be
had; though I can't say for sure it's not true. In summer moose feed
about the ponds and streams, on the long grasses and lily-pads. They're
at home in the water, and mighty fine swimmers; so the red men say that
they came first from the sea.

"In the fall, and through the winter too, so far as I can make out, they
eat the twigs and bark of different trees, such as white birches and
poplars. They're powerful fond of moose-wood--that's what you call
mountain ash. I guess it tastes to them like p