GREAT CONSTERNATION. 



they had got directly behind their unsuspecting vic- 

 tims, availed of these and crept swiftly from one to 

 the other. 



They soon reached a position scarcely sixty yards 

 from the fire ; and here they bent forward with rifles 

 cocked and ready, glaring upon their intended victims 

 like tigers couched to spring. 



They were now about ninety yards from where the 

 three trappers stood concealed, and from this position a 

 clear view was obtainable of both the travellers and the 

 prowling savages. 



" Now, young fellur's the time to show yer shootin'/' 

 cried Jake to Pierre. " I guess old Plumcentre ur a 

 pantin' to be let go at one of them red skunks. Do ee 

 take the fellur as is kneelin', an' I'll take t'other'n. 

 Now!" 



At the word, the two rifles cracked together. Never 

 did a just Nemesis overtake criminals more oppor- 

 tunely. The savage at whom old Jake had fired leaped 

 from the ground with a cry, and plunged heavily for- 

 ward, falling dead upon the body of his companion, who 

 was shot through the brain. 



The astonishment and consternation of the two trav- 

 ellers can hardly be described, when, at the reports of 

 the rifles, they started from their positions and first 

 saw the bodies of the Indians lying on the grass, and 

 then beheld the trappers advancing to them from the 

 cover of the woods. At first they seemed to apprehend 

 a fate for themselves similar to that which had over- 



