break a twig--not too sharply though, or you may scare away your
quarry. Watch its ears: if they flop back and forward, it has heard
nothing, but if both ears point in your direction, keep still and be
ready, for it has heard you, and now with one great spring it may
disappear into a thicket. Instead of breaking a twig, some hunters
prefer to whistle like a startled rabbit while other hunters prefer to
speak to the moose in a gentle voice, always taking care to use none
but kindly words, such as for instance: 'Oh, my lazy brother, I see you
are sleeping long this morning.'

"For we Indians never speak harshly to so good an animal, nor do we
ever use bad words, as bad words always bring bad luck to the hunter.

"In winter, my son, a moose makes much noise in walking and feeding,
for then he often breaks off the tops of little trees--though some of
the trunks may be as thick as a man's arm. The moose breaks down trees
of such a size by placing his big shoulder against it, and curving his
powerful neck round it, and then bending it over with his massive head.
Then, too, he often rides down small trees, such as birch or poplars,
just by straddling his fore legs about them and using his chest to
force them over.

"In shooting a moose, remember the best spot is just behind the
shoulder, and while the next best is in the kidneys, the head is not a
good shot for a smooth-bore gun, for bone often deflects a round ball.
A good hunter always tries to get a clear view of his quarry, for even
a twig may deflect his bullet. And remember, too, my son, that as a
rule, when coming upon a fresh track, it is wiser to back-track it than
to follow it up at once, as back-tracking will provide the hunter with
about all the information he may require, as the back trail will tell