Spirit Lake . r. He listened,thrilled with a vague alarm. But alarm speedily gave place to cu-riosity, and he strode forward. The scuffling 77 78 SPIRIT LAKE noise of his snowshoes against the under-brush would surely frighten the unseenvocalist away. It seemed, however, toproduce the opposite effect, for the myste-rious sound advanced with greater rapiditytoward the crest of the ridge up which hewas climbing. On gaining the summit,just where it was marked by an otterstrail, his attention was momentarily attractedby a little evergreen tree circled and cappedby a curious formation of snow. A lo
Spirit Lake . r. He listened,thrilled with a vague alarm. But alarm speedily gave place to cu-riosity, and he strode forward. The scuffling 77 78 SPIRIT LAKE noise of his snowshoes against the under-brush would surely frighten the unseenvocalist away. It seemed, however, toproduce the opposite effect, for the myste-rious sound advanced with greater rapiditytoward the crest of the ridge up which hewas climbing. On gaining the summit,just where it was marked by an otterstrail, his attention was momentarily attractedby a little evergreen tree circled and cappedby a curious formation of snow. A loudsnort was heard. At-tick looked aside andbeheld a bull moose with but a single gave a yell, and — as the moose wheeled— bounded wildly down the slope withoutso much as a single backward glance. In his flight he left behind him his sled,though it contained his trapping kit andthe frozen carcasses of several valuableanimals taken from his traps. He ran onand on for miles before he dared slacken his. At-tick looked aside and beheld a bull moose with but a single horn. THE TALKING MOOSE 79 speed. Darkness overtook him, but, be-lieving that he was still pursued, he neverhalted until he had reached home. Therethey were all gathered, comfortably smokingand chatting round the fire. Surprisedthough they were, they did not questionhim about his sudden return until he hadeaten his supper. *My son, began Standing Wolf, ^youhave returned sooner than we any evil befallen you? The boy was squatting before the fire withhis head bent forward and his eyes strainingintently at the flames. For some minuteshe neither moved nor spoke. Again Stand-ing Wolf questioned him. At last he stam-mered out, — *I have seen the Talking Moose, and hepursued me. An awed silence fell upon the party. Fora while nothing but the crackHng of the fire 80 SPIRIT LAKE and the whining of the dogs was heard, butsoon the children began to whimper, for they,too, understood the meaning of the omen
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