142 A LITTLE DISGUSTED. 



his dismay he perceived the death-bearing tube levelled 

 at him on this side also. But before Pierre could get a 

 correct aim the squirrel shot down the branch with the 

 rapidity of light, and having gained the trunk, dis- 

 appeared into a hole which decay had worn in the tree. 



" Well, really," said Pierre, " the little brute deserved 

 to escape. But if they are all like that, I fear our pie 

 will not be a large one." 



" To think o' the little skunk not comin' down when 

 I pulled upon him," said Jake. 'Tain't a many var- 

 mints as kin boast o' that, I kin tell him. May an 

 owl eat him! I've wasted a load upon him, and I 

 can't spare so many o' them ! " 



"Never mind, Jake," said Gaultier; "you can ease 

 your mind on the next squirrel we meet. See ! there's 

 one ever there, on that oak branch that shows bare 

 over the little birch." 



The veteran hunter turned his eyes in this direction, 

 and suddenly stopped. 



" Now," said he, " I'll wager this rifle agin a plug o' 

 bacca that I fetches that squirl out o' his boots, an' not 

 touch a ha'r o' the varmint at that." 



" I have heard of the shot," replied Pierre, " but I 

 never saw it done." 



"I hev, though," answered Jake. "I've seed this 

 nigger do it afore ; an' years agone, when I wur a little 

 shirt-tail boy, I've seed it done often by my old man. 

 Hyur goes ! " 



The young men watched the result of Jake's aim 



