Page:They who walk in the wilds, (IA theywhowalkinwil00robe).pdf/207

 It was with forethought of these storms to come that the prudent bull, aided by his cow, set about the establishment of their winter quarters. To the woodman these winter quarters of the moose are known as a "moose-yard." In the lay mind a "moose-yard" is pictured as a sort of wild farm-yard, surrounded by walls of the deep untrodden snow instead of farm buildings, the snow within it all trodden flat or pawed clear, wherein the moose family passes the winter pasturing precariously on such branches as hang within reach. But it is nothing of the sort. Except for the clear space under the trees, serving as sleeping quarters, it is rather a maze than a yard. It consists of an intricate labyrinth of deeply trodden, narrow paths, winding this way and that to touch every bush, every sapling, every thicket which affords the moose suitable browsing. These paths are trampled free after each heavy snowfall, and extended, laboriously as the supply of provender nearest home begins to run short. Threading these labyrinths the moose move freely and at ease; and only under sternest compulsion will they break out into the soft, six-foot deeps of the snow, where they flounder to their bellies and are at the mercy of foes whom at other times they would utterly scorn.

For a couple of days now, the little moose family had fine weather, giving them time to settle