SHOOTING THE CARIBOO. 279 



broad as that of a bull. I say it without any false 

 shame, I felt at ease now that I was separated from my 

 formidable enemy by unconquerable obstacles ; for I have 

 not the slightest hesitation in asserting my belief that, if 

 it had been in his power to cross the distance which sepa- 

 rated us, he would have precipitated himself upon me 

 with a desperate rage. Besides, as my readers have seen 

 already in the course of my narrative, I was not a suf- 

 ficiently skilful skater to have avoided his pursuit, in- 

 asmuch as my snow-shoes impeded rather than, accelerated 

 my progress. 



It was necessary, then, to terminate once for all any 

 longings of the cariboo to attack me, and the apprehen- 

 sion which he inspired. Therefore, I loaded my carbine, 

 and after having taken aim with the utmost precision, I 

 fired. My bullet hit him between the eyes ; the cariboo 

 was dead. With a last effort he bounded forward, and 

 falling over the brink of the rock, disappeared in the 

 current, which dragged him down the cascade. 



A moment afterwards I saw his immense body reappear 

 on the surface of the water, and whirl around and among 

 the masses encircling the borders of the abyss , 



" Well hit ! " cried Mr. Howard, who had arrived in 

 time to see the result of my shot ; "let us make haste to 

 descend, and get hold of our game." 



After a tolerably long circuit we arrived in the valley 

 at the foot of the cascade, but, to our great astonishment, 

 the animal had disappeared. 



" Forward ! forward ! " shouted my host ; " see, the dog 

 will be our guide : he has started alongside the stream." 



Five minutes later, we perceived the cariboo floating 

 down the current, and Jack, who had flung himself into 



