SHEEP-HUNTING 175 



commenced peering and poking about among the 

 bushes to try and get another shot. We had fired 

 two or three more unsuccessful shots, when we 

 broke suddenly into a little open glade, in full 

 view of a small log shanty. We were vastly 

 astonished, for we did not know there was a 

 human habitation within miles and miles of us, 

 and to add to our dismay an excited German 

 sprang up in the open doorway and advanced to 

 us, shouting and gesticulating in the wildest 

 manner. " Mein Gott ! " he cried, " I am so 

 glad I did not shoot. Oh, mein Gott, I am so 

 glad. I thought the Indians were on me this 

 time sure : what for you fire into mein house ? 

 Three or four bullets come right slam into mein 

 house, I tell you. I was lying down behind a 

 flour-sack, and could see you peeping about in the 

 bush like so many Indian thieves. I got a beauti- 

 ful sight on that little fellow in the deerskin shirt, 

 and was shoost about to pull when you come out 

 into the open, and I saw you were white men. 

 He'd have gone up anyhow, I tell you. I had a 

 sure thing on him." It was no wonder the poor 

 man was alarmed, for in fact some of our bullets 

 had by bad luck gone right into his shanty through 

 the open door. He had made all his preparations, 



