212 A TRIPLE DISCHARGE. 



of the mountains surrounding Big Wolf Lake, and termi- 

 nated at the Devil's Hole. 



The path was abrupt, very narrow, precipitous, sinuous, 

 and sometimes dangerous ; but we had all three the 

 sailor's steady foot, and no accident befell us during our 

 peregrination, which lasted for about an hour and a 

 quarter. 



The cedars, close set one against another, rendered the 

 passage very difficult. But, thanks to our vigorous 

 hands, we cleared an issue, and finally arrived before a 

 kind of clearing, in whose centre, at sixty yards' distance, 

 some fifteen deer of every size and age, and of both sexes, 

 were either standing or lying down, browzing on the 

 herbage, with open eye and ear erect. 



" Now, then, my Mmrod from over the sea," whispered 

 Mr. Eustace, " are you not content ? You have nothing 

 to do but to take good aim and fire straight. Attention ! 

 We are in good wind, and have three rifles to discharge. 

 Pat," added he in a low voice to our guide, " you fire to 

 the left, I will take the centre, and you, monsieur," turn- 

 ing to me, " the right. That is agreed. Take your time; 

 count twenty; and then, fire !" 



Each took up his position, and on a signal from Mr. 

 Eustace, shouldered his weapon and began to count. 



Suddenly a threefold discharge rang through the wood, 

 followed at a very brief interval by two fresh reports from 

 my host and myself, who carried double-barrels. 



" Bravo, well shot ! " shouted Mr. Eustace, as he sprang 

 into the open space and contemplated the victims of our 

 quintuple discharge. 



Four stags lay prostrate on the greensward, still writh- 

 ing in the last convulsions of the death agony. 



