902 THE CHANCE SHOT. 



we weri enabled to make further headway than the preceding one. We 

 also saw v few ravens, but they, as if conscious of our desperate condition, 

 cautious!, avoided coming within gun-shot ; — a big rabbit Ukewise showed 

 itself in th-> distance, but, being at the top of its speed, disappeared almost 

 aa soon as f/een ; — thus we were again doomed to go supperless to bed and 

 feast upont'>e well-furnished tables of dreams, which, though they please 

 the fancy dcring their continuance, serve only to increase the appetite 

 and stimulate its cravings. 



On the moi Mng of the fifth day, as we arose to continue our journey, 

 determined to noM out as long as possible, the haggard looks of my com- 

 rade excited r?> compassion, and wishing to cheer him, 1 observed, 



" Well, wha would you think were I. to predict for us a good supper to- 

 night ]" 



** Really," sai. ha, " I don't know. But there's a poor show for its ful 

 filment, any how ' 



"We shall hav\ one, I know it." 



" God send we r;ay. But, pray, where is it to come from. 



** I am quite confident we shall find game. If so, as my rifle bears tlMl 

 name of Old Straightciej, and it has never been known to fail in a case o^ 

 emergency, I know sb; will maintain her ancient honor." 



" What if we don't fnA game ] Then how." 



" Why, here's my hors;^. It will be of no service to me if I am to di«» 

 from starvation. In case w^ find nothing, its carcase shall save our lives.' 



"Horse meat or any thinr else wouldn't go bad, just at this time." 



Thus resolved, we continued our r^ay, plodding along in gloomy silencr 

 brooding over the sad realities of oit deplorable situation, — ever and anon 

 scanning the vacant expanse, in ihe fas!:-waning hope of looked-for reliei: 

 —but as yet looked for in vain. 



The day was fast verging to a close, an.^ I was summoning a sufficien 

 cy of fortitude to submit to the sacrifi"^ ,>f ray favorite beast, and rumi 

 nating upon the many difficulties and incon eniences that must result 

 from such a step, volving and revolving al' th,: pros and cons the cas« 

 admitted of, when I was roused from my reverie L v the shrill voice of m) 

 comrade, who joyfully exclaimed, 



" Look ! — look ! A bufialo l" — at the same time p^ inting in the direc 

 tion it appeared. 



I looked, and sure enough a venerable old bull piMsente^ hi^iseif a fei*. 

 hundred yards to the right. 



" Aye, aye, my hearty ! There's a chance for Old Straight*, uei !*' sa*. 

 It as, lowering my rifle, I started towards the intended victim, 



" Don't forget," cried my comrade, ** that all my hopes of salvation an 

 centred in your rifle-ball." 



The animal was feeding quietly, and I was enabled to approach withn 

 Bome sixty yaids of him, when levelhng, I pulled trigger, — but the c&f 

 being damp, burst without a discharge. The noise caught the quick ea; 

 of the bufialo, and caused him to look round ; — however, seeing nothinfi 

 to excite his ularui, he soon^ resumed an employment more agreeable U. 

 his taste than needless vigilance. 



Having put fresh powder into the tube, and supplied it with another cam 

 I wa» again raising to take aim, aiid had brought my piece nearly haU 



