276 THE WOUNDED REDSKIN. 



the snow in the presence of a furious cariboo, whose 

 antlers threatened inevitable death. 



At length we found it possible to appi'oach the king 

 of the forest, who lay prostrate at our feet. Mr. How- 

 ard's bullet had struck him in the shoulder, and under 

 no circumstances could he have lived. 



" Hallo," cried Mr. Howard, addressing Monai, who 

 was stretched on his back, " are you wounded, Red- 

 skin?" 



" The cariboo is strong." replied the Indian, " but man 

 is stronger than he. Friend, apply to the wound a little 

 of this pine-tree resin, and I shall be cured." 



Obeying his injunction, Mr. Howard spread some of 

 this new remedy on a handkerchief folded in four, and 

 having stanched the flowing blood, he made the plaster 

 adhere to the skin. 



"What has become of your cariboo?" he said to me, 

 while bandaging the Indian ; " did you hit it ?" 



' " Yes, undoubtedly : I wager niy rifle against the 

 rustiest old musket in the United States that the animal 

 is badly wounded." 



" See, Jack has caught the scent, and is off and away ! 

 Hurry on your snow-shoes, and follow him : the blood 

 will guide you as well as the furrow of a sledge. If you 

 get within range of the animal, don't fire unless you can 

 get a good aim. As for me, I will soon follow you, but 

 I must see that Monai is not dangerously hurt. I must 

 also dry my rifle ; but take things calmly, I will not long 

 delay. Off, off, my friend !" 



I darted forward eagerly, following up the bloody 

 murk which had enabled Jack to take up the trail. The 



