hank merwin ceased plying his paddle and the boat rested almost motionless.
the jacklight revealed a sight which might have thrilled even a veteran hunter. the boys found it hard to steady their tingling nerves.
"gee!" gasped dick travers. "i never——"
but a stern, though almost inaudible admonition from hank merwin effectually silenced him.
in spite of the glare of light which streamed over them, the infuriated moose continued their deadly combat. bellowing and snorting, they reared and plunged, striking with both hoofs and horns, churning the shallow water into foam and trampling down the lilies and rushes which grew thickly about.
the novelty of the situation, the weird light, cutting its way through the blackness, and the struggle to the death, made it seem more like some wild dream than reality, and the chums rested almost motionless, half expecting, each moment, that their presence would be discovered.
but the monarchs of the forest were too intent upon their war. although of clumsy build, with huge head, short neck and long, ungainly fore legs, they moved about with wonderful speed.
suddenly their antlers came together with terrific force, and two foam-flecked bodies swayed back and forth. the battle raged hotter. now the smaller animal was borne almost to his knees; then, recovering himself, forced the other back, and the latter, in turn exerting his enormous strength to the utmost, pushed his rival partly around.
a huge head was silhouetted for an instant against the background; a spreading pair of antlers descended. the blow was struck with all the force that a powerful pair of shoulders could give—a blow of crushing force.
the smaller animal staggered; a snort of agony and rage echoed over the lake, as he flopped to his knees, sending forth a circling wave to surge against the sides of the boat.
"he's done for," breathed dick.
"no—not yet. look—he's game."
the fighters were on the edge of the jacklight now, and dick's hands trembled with excitement as he adjusted the reflector.
the moose, with a desperate effort, bravely arose and locked horns again.
then it was that dave brandon aroused himself.
"quick, dick travers," he exclaimed, in a thrilling whisper, "quick! what's the matter with you—get your picture!"
the official photographer had almost forgotten his mission. but he set about repairing his error with so much energy that he nearly fell overboard.
a warning "sh—sh" from hank steadied him, and, to his relief, the animals paid no heed.
eagerly, he again adjusted the light and sighted the camera.
"ready, dave," he whispered. "set off the powder."
a blinding glare followed, and dick travers gave a low cry of triumph.
"as sure as you live, i got it," he murmured, exultantly. "christopher!"
the combat was approaching an end.
the larger moose backed away, then plunged forward.
crash! its antlers landed with telling force; its antagonist staggered, sank to his knees, then toppled heavily over, and a wave surged forth as he fell among the water-lilies and rushes. the mountains threw back on the night air the conqueror's bellow of triumph.
then, as if conscious for the first time of danger, the moose wheeled sharply about and made for the shore as fast as his exhausted condition would permit.
in an instant, dick had raised his rifle, and, seeing this, hank merwin lowered his own.
"at him, lad; and shoot straight," he encouraged.
there was a flash and a report—the moose fell backward on his haunches.
"i've got him!" yelled dick, in great excitement.
but, almost as he spoke, there was a floundering in the water; the wounded and enraged animal staggered to his feet and charged directly for the boat.
it was a critical moment.
but hank merwin did not lose his head. with a quick stroke, he sent the craft forward, and, as he turned it, the rays of the jacklight swept past the charging moose to the shore beyond.
"he's coming right for us!" yelled dick, in terror.
"don't none of yer shoot," commanded the trapper, sharply.
the moose was right behind them. its ungainly form could be dimly seen, as it lumbered through the dense aquatic growth, bent on vengeance.
but hank shot the boat out in deep water, then quickly turned. the jacklight was again directed toward the moose.
its rays were barely in time to reveal a most unexpected sight. the animal suddenly staggered and fell.
dick travers' shot, together with the wounds received in battle, had proved too much for the gallant old beast, whose eyes glared defiance to the last.
"hurrah!" cried the official photographer, in a wild burst of enthusiasm. "oh, christopher! isn't this a piece of luck? got a picture and brought down a moose—how's that, dave, old boy?" and in his delight, he slapped his friend vigorously on the shoulder. "ain't i a hunter, eh?"
"yes, lad, didn't do bad," put in hank, kindly, "but if the ole critter hadn't had that tussle—wal—you'd be a heap wetter'n you are now, an' the boat might have been smashed ter bits."
"i say, hank, could—i—i get the antlers?" asked dick, breathlessly.
"sartin, my lad. i'll fix 'em fur ye. i'd best be gittin' ter work right away, too."
hank merwin's sharp hunting-knife began to do wonders. he cut and slashed in a manner which showed his familiarity with such work. finally, the head, skin and several choice pieces of meat lay in the bottom of the boat.
"to-morrer we'll come over an' finish the job," declared hank. "ye sartingly were in luck, lads. it was a sight that many an ole stager in the woods ain't seen."
"we've had a grand trip," said dave, "and when we get back i'm going to celebrate by taking the biggest snooze i ever had."
bob somers and jim havens were greatly astonished when they learned what had happened.
"christopher! just look at that pair of horns!" exclaimed the captain, as the moose's head was dragged ashore. "greatest luck i ever heard of," he added, "and if that picture only comes out right, won't it make some of the kingswood boys open their eyes?"
"i guess it will," laughed dick. "and we ought to have a few more adventures before the trip is over. when do we start climbing again?"
"day after to-morrow."
"thought it was week after next," drawled dave.
"why not stay a while longer, lads?" put in hank merwin.
but bob shook his head.
"sam and little tommy clifton must have their fling at it pretty soon," he said. "guess they think we're lost already."
next morning, the four piled into hank merwin's boat, and were paddled to the scene of the battle. they helped the trapper skin the second moose, and spent the rest of the day fishing. a good haul of trout resulted.
on the following morning, immediately after breakfast, hank merwin rowed them to the far end of the lake. he was sorry to see them go, but the boys assured him that they would be back in a few days.
"it's funny," remarked dick, after they had been on the way for some time, "how close that mountain looked to the lake, and we've been walking and walking."
"and haven't even come to the base," grumbled dave. "that's always the way with mountains—they do it on purpose."
"notice how the trees have thinned out?" queried havens; "well, this place is called 'scattered pines.' used to be a lot of moose around here—guess there are still. but come ahead, fellows; we have a long climb."
presently, between the pines, a stream appeared in view. it sang so cheerily that dave was charmed.
"oh, ho," he murmured, as he reached the bank; "makes me think of that poem by—"
"that will do, chubby," laughed dick.
"by bryant. it begins—now listen——"
"great cæsar, fellows, keep quiet," broke in bob, in a low tone. "what in the dickens is that straight ahead? look, havens—there—it moved!"
"a bear, and i'll bet a grizzly," said jim.
"where—where, for goodness' sake?" asked dick, gazing wildly around.
"right on that fallen tree," answered dave.
"the old rascal is fishing. see—he scooped up something then."
"sure he did," agreed havens. "grizzlies are great fishers, and the old dub there is so anxious to get a square meal that he hasn't even noticed us."
"let's creep up on him," proposed jim. "but you'll need all your nerve. who wants to go?"
"huh! do you think we came out here to hunt sparrows?" whispered dick, scornfully, and the others smiled.
very cautiously, and keeping out of sight as much as possible, the quartet pushed ahead, and presently arrived at a point where the bear could be plainly seen.
he was stretched out on a trunk which had fallen across the stream, forming a natural bridge. his broad, massive head lay far over, and his gaze was fixed intently upon the water below. his powerful right paw, ready for instant action, hung low, but the heavy, brownish yellow form seemed as motionless as the trunk itself.
the grizzly was not resting, however, or merely enjoying the pleasant sunshine. he was working for his living, and doing it in a thorough and efficient manner.
quick as a flash, his paw struck the water, and when it came out, a glistening, wriggling fish was tossed on the bank.
"fellows, i'm going to make a snap-shot of that," whispered dick, in great excitement. "by jingo—look at him eating! that is a sight worth seeing, eh?"
"quick, then," said havens, in cautious tones.
with hands that trembled in spite of himself, dick travers sighted the camera, and just as the grizzly was again making a catch, its click sounded sharply.
success emboldened them to wait and try to get another. the bear continued his feasting, and all was silent. at least the boys were sure they were acting with commendable caution. whether they were mistaken in this, or whether something else attracted the animal's attention, they never knew, but dick travers, about to take another look through the camera, drew back as if he had been shot.
the bear slowly turned his head; then, with a sort of coughing growl, arose, and his powerful frame was silhouetted against the firs on the opposite bank. in another moment, he had lumbered off the tree trunk, and was pushing forward directly toward the venturesome hunters.
