BRANT SnOOTING. 307 



suspense, are slowly raised, and two pair of astonished 

 eyes bcliold a hundred and fifty brant swimming hither 

 and tliither, cofjuettinj^ and playinj^ together, entirely 

 innocent of danj^er. Gradually they work tli<;ir way 

 alon^ to the southwarrl of the Ix^x, spreadinj^ about, 

 sfjiTie f|uite near and others more remote. At length 

 they a^mc together very hanflsomely within forty yards 

 of the box. "Now is our time," whispers Kenf). "Are 

 you ready?" he nervously continues. An affirmative 

 response is made, anrj he gives the orrler, "Put f>verl 

 CJne, two — fire!" Jiang! bang! go the six barrels; 

 sjilash ! splash ! go the three j>airs of long boots. The 

 dear! anrl wounderl are gathered in with all possible de- 

 spatch, and but for one cripple the work woubl have 

 been f|uick]y done. This one, liowever, gave \U:n<> a 

 fearful jaunt. 



Away went our blark footc.-d hero, puddling for fl<:ar 

 life toward the North Pole, ;ind away went Keno in 

 jjursuit. 'f he jjursuer had not the benefit of a long pair 

 (A legs, though he had excellent pluck, while the pur- 

 suer! was blessed with a sj)lendid j>air for the work be- 

 fore him. Now the brant seemed to gain on his |;ur- 

 suer, anrl now Renr> ou the object of his pursuit. S. and 

 H. watched with breathless anxiety this little episofle 

 incident to branting. These birds are not divers, but 

 stand up bravely till their pursuer is quite near, when 

 they jjlunge in and swim under water; but they make 

 slow progress, anrl are then easily cai>tured. I'lacing 

 his bird under his arm, he slowly returns. "Big shot," 

 says S. "How many?" infjuires Reno, as he jumps into 



