94 A PRODIGIOUS MEAL. 



carcass, and having adjusted it to his satisfaction, the 

 old hunter shouldered Plumcentre, having first care- 

 fully examined it to satisfy himself that it had escaped 

 all injury. He then left the spot, followed by Pierre 

 and Gaultier. 



The tongues of the other two bison were cut out, as 

 well as the choicest parts of the one first killed, which 

 happened to be a fine young <jow. A roast was of 

 course the first thing done on arrival at the camp ; and 

 during the prodigious meal which followed, each of the 

 hunters fought his battle over again. 



In answer to Pierre's inquiry as to how he got treed, 

 Old Jake replied : 



" I guess this nigger hain't often been obleeged to 

 show his tail in that thur ondignified way ; but acci- 

 dents ur sure to happen some time or other to all on us. 

 I've even heerd tell o' a fellur bein' treed by a moose, 

 an' screechin' mighty loud about it, too." 



This allusion was taken good-humouredly by Pierre, 

 who laughed. 



" Wai, I follered that bufiler like a white wolf. I 

 wur determined to hev that bunler, boys, and so I glued 

 myself to his tail, an' tore arter him through the woods. 

 0' coorse, I knowed the varmint wur wounded. I'd 

 let old Plumcentre into him at the fust go-off, an' seed 

 him stumble. But he seemed to get stronger an' 

 stronger the furrer he went, until we kem to that open 

 place whur ye corned up wi' me. All this while I 

 hadn't time to clap the fodder into my rifle ; but the 



