They were walking one beautiful morning slowly along one of the numerous
deer-tracks of which we have already made mention, and were approaching
the summit of a ridge at the very time that a herd of deer, headed by a
noble stag, were ascending the same ridge from the opposite side. The
little air that moved was blowing in the right direction--from the deer
towards the travellers. As they topped the ridge about the same
instant, the two parties stood suddenly face to face, and it would be
difficult to determine which party looked most amazed.
Facility in fitting arrows, etcetera, had been acquired by that time.
The hunters were ready in a couple of seconds. The deer, recovering,
wheeled about; but before they could take the first bound, "burr, twang,
and whizz," sounded in their ears. The stone struck an antler of the
stag, the arrow pierced his flank, the bolt quivered in his heart, and
the monarch of the woods, leaping wildly into the air, fell dead upon
the ground.
"Well done, Master Trench!" shouted Paul, with a hearty cheer. As for
Oliver, he uttered a squeal of delight, threw an uncontrollable
somersault, and landed, sittingwise, on a bed of soft moss.
This was a tremendous triumph and source of jubilation, and it soon
became obvious to each that the other two had a hard struggle to keep
their expressions of satisfaction within the limits of moderation; for
not only had they now obtained the crowning evidence of their skill, but
they were provided with a supply of meat which, if properly dried, would
furnish them with food for many days to come.
It was a striking and picturesque, though perhaps not an agreeable,
sight to witness the party that night, in the ruddy light of the
camp-fire, with sleeves rolled to the shoulders, and bloody knives in
hands, operating on the carcase of the deer, and it was several hours
past their usual supper-time before they felt themselves at liberty to
sit down on a bed of spruce-fir branches and enjoy the luxury of rest
and food.
Next day, while proceeding slowly through the woods, chatting merrily
over the incidents of the previous day, a sudden silence fell upon them;
for out of the thick shrubbery there stalked a tall, noble-looking man
of middle age. He was dressed in the garb of a hunter. Long yellow
curls hung on his shoulders, and a heavy beard and moustache of the same
colour concealed the lower part of a bronzed and handsome countenance.
His bright blue eyes seemed to sparkle with good humour as he gazed
inquiringly, yet sadly, at the astonished faces of the three travellers.