"  '  They  can't  be  bears,'  said  Spriggs  ;  '  for  they  are
too  large,  and  the  creatures  make  too  great  a  racket.'

" '  And  too  great  a  bellowing,  I  should  imagine,'  said
Melcher,  laughing.  'But  we  can  find  out,  I  guess,  by
looking  at  the  tracks.  Light  some  torches.'

"  A  pitch-pine  knot,  with  a  stick  thrust  into  its  hollow
end,  was  lighted  at  the  fire ;  and  we  left  the  camp  to
examine  the  trail.  Following  along  the  shore  to  the
place  where  the  animals  had  jumped  into  the  water,  we
there  found  the  sand  and  mud  thrown  up.  Melcher  had
the  torch.
" '  Hoofs  ! '  exclaimed  he,  holding  it  down.
"  'Ah  !  they  were  moose,  then  ! '  cried  Nimms.
