to manage
it!" was what Phil exclaimed.

There was no time for more just then. Mr. Bull Moose was ready for
another frolic, having freshened up. So again they chased madly around
that tree, the hoofs of the animal tearing up the ground until it looked
as though he had made a regular race-track there.

When finally the new inning came to a close Phil was fairly panting for
breath, and more dizzy than ever.

"A few more turns like that would do me up!" he gasped; and then gritted
his teeth with a determination to make the break he had figured on.

Fortunately the moose always seemed to come to a stand at about the same
spot. This brought the little clump of trees exactly behind Phil, which
fact would give him a chance to get fairly started before the moose
became aware of his intention.

Taking in a long breath the boy suddenly darted away.

He instantly heard the moose rushing after him. The distance was short,
and so Phil managed to swing around his new shelter, with those ugly
horns not more than five feet behind him.

Well, that was all the margin he needed for safety. The new barrier
would cause him to cover much more ground with every revolution; but
then it was not his purpose to keep this up any longer than was
absolutely necessary.

A great wave of relief swept over the boy when he managed to slip in
between two of the small trees, and found that he was well protected on
all sides from the enraged animal's horns.

In vain did the moose attempt to insert his head between the trees. Phil
kicked at him, and continued his shouts. By now he was beginning to feel
that the advantage was swinging over to his side. He had done nothing to
incur this hostility on the part of the animal, and was surely entitled
to the privilege of defending himself as best he could, even to the
extent of inflicting injury on his four-footed enemy.

Perhaps at some time in the past a monster tree had been cut down on
this spot, and these second-growth saplings had sprung up in a circle
that was wide enough to afford a nimble boy shelter. The towering horns
of the moose, more than anything else, rendered it difficult for him to
reach Phil.

This second stage of the affair was a decided improvement on the first,
Phil assured himself. At the same time he was not satisfied. He failed
to see the fun of being kept a prisoner, cooped up in that limited space
for perhaps hours. It was no fault of his that the moose chanced to be
in an u