48 A LUCKY SHOT. 



galloped with a speed that seemed unearthly in pursuit 

 of their prey. 



Evidently they did not perceive the fire until they 

 were close to it, so engrossed were they in the chase. 

 With a simultaneous rush they swerved aside, but still 

 continued the pursuit. The buck had already disap- 

 peared, and Pierre, seizing his rifle, dropped the last^ 

 wolf by a lucky shot, the animal turning a complete 

 somersault with the impetus of its motion. 



The shot, however, was not immediately fatal, and 

 as Pierre approached, the disabled beast bared its gleam- 

 ing teeth and tried to rush at him. Its back had 

 been broken by the bullet, and finding itself unable 

 to stand, it tried to drag itself into the woods. But 

 Pierre turned it over dead on the spot with a bullet 

 through the brain. He then dragged it to the fire, 

 where he occupied himself after his supper of bear- 

 steaks in removing the handsome skin, which he used 

 for a blanket, having neglected to bring his " five-point 

 mackinaw" from the canoe. Before turning in for the 

 night, the young hunter piled up an immense fire ; and 

 then drawing his wolfskin over him, he lay down with 

 his feet towards the glowing coals, and soon fell into a 

 doze. 



Although it was now well advanced in the summer, 

 the night was raw and cold ; and notwithstanding the 

 great embers, which blazed brightly whenever a breeze 

 waked them up, Pierre shivered in his sleep. A sen- 

 sation of fear oppressed him ; and, full of the conscious- 



