The plan worked splendidly, for the stupid animal below kept steady vigil under the limb where all that thrashing was going on. He snorted with rage, and pawed the earth with one of his hoofs, as if giving an earnest example of what he meant to do when the strange enemy dropped to the ground.
There was nothing to hinder Dick from completing his loading, and, as he shook the priming powder into the pan and prepared to fire, he felt sorry only for one thing. This was the fact that Roger could not be the one to bring about the death of the kingly moose, since his heart seemed to have been so set on accomplishing such a valorous deed.
It was more because he must save the life of his chum than through a desire for the death of the monster moose that caused Dick finally to pull trigger, after he had found a chance to aim back of the animal’s foreleg.
The shot was instantly fatal, for those long-barreled rifles of pioneer days were capable of sending a bullet with tremendous force. The big beast fell with a crash, and immediately afterwards a loud hurrah from Roger announced that he gloried in the successful outcome of their adventure.
It was easy enough for the nimble boy to drop from his perch. He limped a little, and had a few minor bruises to show for his close contact with those horns of the bull moose. On the whole, however, Roger considered that he had been very lucky. Dick told him that he felt the same, as they stood beside the fallen monarch of the forest, and noted his powerful frame and muscles.
It was impossible to think of taking those towering horns back with them, since they would have no way of carrying the trophy save on one of their horses; and that was utterly out of the question.
“I feel a little sorry we had to kill the poor beast,” admitted Dick, “much as any hunter might be proud of bringing down such big game. But his flesh is far too tough for food, and we can never dream of taking those horns with us.”
“Well, he looked as if he wanted to fight as soon as he saw us there,” said Roger. “That was one reason I shot as quickly as I did. But, while I had most of the fun, the glory remained for you, Dick.”
“If you call that sort of thing fun, Roger, I don’t admire your taste, that’s all I can say! When I saw him rushing at you with his head lowered I felt a cold chill run up and down my back, for I thought you were gone.”
“I don’t know just what made me fasten to his horns the way I did,” explained Roger, with a broad grin; “but something seemed to tell me that was my only chance, and I guess it was, too.”