hastened forward. This led him down into a valley, and there he saw
the moose in a small open clearing to the left. Before he was near
enough to shoot, the animal once more vanished among the trees. The
fever of the chase was now upon him, and unheeding his bearings, he
pressed rapidly on, expecting every minute to come in sight of the
lordly creature. But he was doomed to disappointment, and most
reluctantly he was compelled to relinquish the pursuit.

Reynolds had no definite idea how far he had travelled, nor the
direction he had taken. So intent had he been upon following the
moose, that he had lost all trace of his bearings, and he knew not the
way back to the camp. This was a most disquieting situation, and he
chided himself for his stupidity. Night was also upon him, and this
added to his perplexity.

"What a mess I have made of it!" he growled. "In this labyrinth of
valleys, hills, trees, and wild meadows, how in the name of common
sense am I to find that speck of camping ground? It must lie over
there," and he looked away to his right. "The sun was before me when I
started, and by keeping due east I should come somewhere near the
place."

For over an hour he plowed his way through the forest, up hill and
down, each moment expecting to see the lake for which he was searching.
His efforts, however, were all in vain, so wearied almost to the point
of exhaustion, and with clothes torn, hands and face bleeding, he was
forced to give up for the night.

Sinking upon the ground, he tried to calm the agitated state of his
mind. From the first he had realised his serious predicament, and how