In his other hand was a paddle,
and with these harmless-looking implements he was about to start in
chase of the moose.
Quickly proceeding to the river bank, he drew out from beneath a clump
of bushes the "coffin," and, unheeding alike the warnings of the elders
and derisive shouts of the youngsters, elicited by the appearance of his
curious-looking craft, he knelt down in the stern and set out on his
perilous adventure.
But he had not gone far before it was seen that something was wrong.
The boat had a will of its own, and that will was evidently exerted in
direct opposition to the will of its owner.
It went, but how? No schoolboy ever drew a truer circle with a bit of
string and a slate-pencil than that cranky craft made on the placid
surface of the river each time Ramrod put a little extra strength into
his stroke.
At last, however, the gallant boatman managed to make headway, and,
aided by the current, he now rapidly approached the moose, which was
considerably distressed by the great length of its swim.
But the instant the animal became aware that it was being pursued, it
redoubled its efforts to gain the island, which was not very distant.
And this it would have succeeded in doing had it not been for the almost
herculean exertions of Ramrod, by which it was eventually headed up
stream again.
And now a stern chase up and down and across the river ensued.
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