54 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



yards of the fatal gun which has already been brought to the 

 hunter's cheek, while his eye looked steadily along the smooth 

 barrel. The trigger was touched a blaze, and the death- 

 ring struck sharp and shrill on the air. The fugitive, a 

 noble buck, fell, and the hunter, in a moment, to secure his 

 victim, having dropped his gun and drawn his knife, sprung 

 across his back in order to cut his throat. 



But, behold ! the ball had struck one of his horns only near 

 the root, which stunned the animal and caused it to fall. He 

 recovered his feet again before the hunter had time to wound 

 him with his knife, and, finding his enemy on his back, he 

 rose and sprung off with the speed of an arrow ; while the 

 hunter, having full occupation for his hands in holding fast 

 by the horns, found no time to invade his throat. So, cling- 

 ing with his feet under the belly of the deer, he was borne 

 away at a fearful rate the whole length of the flat, till he 

 came to the steep bank of the river, at which place he had 

 no sooner arrived, than, with his rider, the deer plunged with 

 a tremendous leap into the deep water. 



Here a scuffle ensued between the hunter and the deer ; 

 the deer endeavoring to push him under water with his fore- 

 feet, while the hunter was striving to hold its head, and at 

 the same time cut its throat. This he soon accomplished, 

 and, swimming ashore, drew his prize after him, declaring to 

 his companions, who had witnessed the sport, and were now 

 assembled on the river's bank, that he had had a " most 

 glorious ride." 



This man's name was John McMullen, and he is well 

 remembered even now by many of the old inhabitants along 

 the Susquehanna. 



