Page:They who walk in the wilds, (IA theywhowalkinwil00robe).pdf/57

 restless cow had begun to call, a young moose bull came striding down the beach to her side. He was very young, and the cow regarded him dubiously. Glancing past her, he caught sight of Red Calf, a stocky figure, much shorter but much heavier than himself. Aflame with jealousy, but at the same time rather contemptuous of such an unantlered rival, he lowered his own slim antlers, and charged. Red Calf, with a wrathful grunt, flung up his tail stiffly and lunged forwards to meet this unprovoked attack. With a heavy thud the two armed heads crashed together. The result was disastrous to the challenger; for instead of receiving the shock, as he expected, upon his tough, elastic antlers, he got it full upon his forehead, his brow-spikes being too wide-set to engage his opponent's stumpy horns. Half stunned, he was borne backwards, almost to his haunches. Pressing the advantage, Red Calf flung him aside, staggering, and prodded him sayagely in the flank before he could recover his balance. Utterly daunted by this method of fighting—which was not according to his rules—the young bull tore himself free and fled in panic, with an ugly scarlet gash in his sleek hide. The victor chased him as far as the bushes, and then, swelling with triumph, returned to his mother for applause. To his amazement, however, she seemed very far from pleased at his achievement.