200 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



^vhere the drifted snow appeared to lie deep, 

 which I could not hope to cross without being 

 seen. At last I fancied he was about to move 

 away, and as his position seemed to offer a fair 

 shot, I put up the back-sight of my heavy two-ounce 

 rifle at the four hundred yards range, and delibe- 

 rately aimed at his brawny shoulder. The grooved 

 bore carried truly ; for, when the smoke cleared 

 away, I saw the huge beast was brought to his 

 knees, and in a moment more he careened on his 

 side, and rolled over on his back with his four feet 

 in the air. I gave him the contents of my second 

 barrel, which did not seem to affect him, for his 

 position remained unchanged ; so, having carefully 

 reloaded, I approached him, keeping myself in 

 readiness to receive his charge, which would be the 

 more impetuous as it would be made down-hill. 

 As I drew near, I heard him making a peculiar 

 moaning noise, accompanied by a succession of 

 loud grunts, which I knew betokened extreme dis- 

 tress ; and, when I mounted the crest of the hill, I 

 saw at a glance that the game was nearly over. 

 The poor beast was in his last agony, and too far 



