340 TRAGICAL EVENT. 



the knoll where he met his fate, and had subsequently gone 

 elsewhere, and therefore considered there was no risk in 

 following on our track. 



Though it was the veriest snap-shot, rny aim was 

 unfortunately too true. One of the bullets there being 

 two in either barrel had penetrated poor Svensson's head, 

 just below the ear ; the other had taken effect in the upper 

 part of the left shoulder, and passed out beneath the right 

 arm, which it had shattered in its progress. Death must, 

 therefore, have been instantaneous; which circumstance, 

 poor as was the solace, was some little alleviation to 

 my mind. 



When the old man received his death-wounds, he was 

 engaged, as appeared by the marks at the stump of a tree, 

 in lighting a fire. Had he been in an upright position, I 

 should, no doubt, have looked twice before drawing the 

 trigger: but whilst collecting sticks for fuel, his body was 

 bent double, which made him more resemble a bear; and 

 his stooping position, therefore, in all probability, caused his 

 untimely and melancholy end. 



How far the poor fellow was from me, is hard to say 

 to my notions, certainly not more than from sixty to 

 seventy yards. This is, I think, borne out by the fact, 

 that the balls mere running ones, and without leather, 

 or covering of any kind around them took effect, as shown, 

 within a very few inches of each other, which could hardly 

 have been the case had the distance been much greater. 

 Elg as will be seen by the depositions subsequently taken 

 coincided with me in opinion in this matter; and in the 

 first instance, so did the soldier; though he subsequently 

 made out the distance to be very much greater. 



