“Ask Jim, or Eli,” replied the patrol leader, who was really too busy just then getting some of his own clothes, to bother answering.
So the others turned to the two guides, who, not having removed any of their ordinary garments, did not feel the chilly night air as much as the lads.
“What was it banged us over, Eli?” asked Bumpus.
“Moose bull on the rampage!” replied the Maine woodsman, readily enough.
“A great big moose like that one we shot a while ago!” echoed Bumpus, showing great excitement. “Just my luck. Why, if he’d heard that I had a new gun, and was waiting to see what it could do, he couldn’t have been kinder. Just knocked at our door; and when nobody answered him he went away again, and by jinks! carried the door and the rest of the house with him. However in the wide world do you suppose that happened, Eli? I guess you ought to know, because you’re acquainted with the queer ways of these woods’ critters.”
“Never knew such a thing before in all my experience in woods,” asserted the older guide, shaking his head. “Fire was out, wind blowing wrong way for moose to smell human critters; and he must a thought he heard ’nother bull on the edge o’ ther water, wantin’ to fight him. Anyhow he jest natchrally tore right through that tent. It got fast to his horns, and he’s been an’ kerried it off.”
“Oh! what tough luck. If I’d only been on the watch I’d have the honor of shooting the first moose that took to wearin’ clothes human way,” groaned Bumpus.
“D’ye suppose, then, he’s keepin’ our bally tent; and won’t we ever set eyes on the same again?” asked Giraffe, holding his chilled hands out toward the fire that in Davy’s charge had been revived again until it sent out a genial warmth.
“Soon know,” remarked Jim, who had a personal interest in the matter, seeing that the purloined canvas belonged to him; though of course he knew that his employers would stand for any loss he incurred while working in their service.
He took the lantern, and started away. Thad had managed to get some of his clothes on by this time, and he hurried after the shorter guide, who seemed to know exactly in which direction to pursue his investigations.