172 FOUR FOOTED AMERICANS 



" The Fox was windward of Nat, who, as he says, 

 must have shot in a great hurr}^ ! " 



" It was fine I " shouted Rap. " Only thinlv, Nattie, 

 you've shot a very wicked Fox, and you can have the 

 skin to make a rug for your motlier, and perhaps she 

 will hang it in Camp Saturday for a trophy ! Please, 

 why was it wrong. Dr. Hunter?" 



" For this reason. Rap. I told Nat 7iot to load his 

 gun ; he disobeyed. He shot at something without be- 

 ing siire what it was ; it happoied to be a Fox, but it 

 might liave been a dog, or a calf, or a man crawling in 

 the brush Every year dreadful accidents happen and 

 people are killed and maimed for life because sportsmen 

 become excited and mistake a man for a Deer, a Bear, 

 or a Fox, and all the excuse they have is that it was a 

 'mistake.' People who can make such mistakes must 

 not handle guns." 



The boys looked so very sad that Mr. Blake said, 

 '' I thiidv Nat has learned his lesson early and once for 

 all ; fortunately, by accident his accident wasn't an 

 accident after all. Did you say your feet are cold ? 

 I think we had better all go into the cabin." 



" They were very cold a while ago, daddy, for my 

 leggins leaked a little and the snow got in, but now 

 they feel better, or rather I don't feel as if I had any 

 feet. 1 think it would be nice to put them by the 

 fire." 



" What ! no feelinof in them ?" exclaimed the Doctor. 

 " Nez, bring me a pan of snow into the cabin, and off 

 with your leggins, my boy. No, don't go near the fire, 

 if you do your feet will swell and you will have chil- 

 l)lains every winter for — 1 don't know how long." 



