In Paths of Peril: a Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia
Copyright© 2026 by J. Macdonald Oxley
Chapter 6: In the Nick of Time
As it happened, the snow did not lie very heavily at this particular place, and the great creature was able to move with tremendous speed.
“Look out, Raoul!” shouted La Tour, as he darted aside to evade the moose’s onset. “Get behind a tree, and then fire at him.”
This was precisely what Raoul had in mind to do, and he made a gallant effort to accomplish it, but unfortunately in his haste he caught his snow-shoes together, and over he went headlong into the snow with such violence as to nearly bury himself.
Confused by the fall, and blinded by the snow, he lay there helplessly, while the bull moose, infuriated by its wound, and seeing only the prostrate boy to account for it, bore down upon him with murderous intent.
He fully realized his danger, and yet felt powerless to avert it, for to regain one’s feet after a tumble with snow-shoes on is no easy matter.
In the meantime La Tour had rushed out from behind the tree, and by waving his arms and shouting, strove to attract the attention of the animal to himself until Raoul should have time to get upon his feet again, and find a place of safety.
But the moose was not to be thus diverted from its victim, and kept on until it was within ten yards of Raoul, whose fate now seemed to be sealed.
La Tour, quite forgetting himself in his anxiety for the boy, made a desperate effort to get in between him and the animal, and groaned aloud as he saw that it could not avail.
Then, suddenly, Raoul raised himself upon his knees, and pointing his gun at the moose’s head, pulled the trigger.
At the report the big brute pitched forward upon its antlers, almost turning a somersault, and La Tour with an exclamation of joy ran to Raoul, and lifting him up clasped him to his breast, crying:
“Bravo! my nephew, bravo! That was a splendid shot. I never thought you could do it.”
But hardly had the words left his lips than his exultation changed to alarm, for the moose, which had been only stunned by the bullet, and not mortally wounded, rose to its feet again to renew the charge.
Happily the shock of the bullet had bewildered it so that it went off at a tangent, and ere it could recover itself La Tour had hurried Raoul to safe shelter behind a mighty tree.
Hastily reloading his gun, an action which Raoul lost no time in imitating, La Tour watched his chance to give the great animal a final shot.
After plunging about for a little it once more located its assailants, and, looking very terrible in its rage, made another furious rush at them.
This they both evaded without difficulty, and then La Tour got the opportunity he sought, and sent a bullet into the heart of the mighty creature, which brought its career to a sudden end.
“Phew!” he exclaimed in a tone of profound relief, as he took off his fur cap and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. “That was lively work, wasn’t it, Raoul? What a grand fight the old fellow did make! He pretty nearly had you under his hoofs. You managed to fire in the nick of time. That was a clever shot, my boy, and I am proud of you for it.”
Raoul flushed with pleasure at his uncle’s praise, which he appreciated all the more because La Tour was far more prone to find fault than to express approval.