A BUCK SECURED. 235 



uncertain; but the lynx, by a dexterous manoeuvre, 

 turned the porcupine over on his back, and in an instant 

 the fierce beast's jaw was buried in the defenceless 

 animal's stomach. The battle was now soon ended; 

 and, seeing this, I drew a steady bead on the lynx, and 

 at the report he rolled over as dead as a door-nail. 



" I had hardly observed the result of the shot, when, 

 to my amazement, a fine buck, which had lain hidden 

 near the spot, sprang to his feet and was bounding off, 

 when, by a very lucky chance, I knocked him over. 

 He got on his legs, however, in a moment, and would 

 have made good his escape if I hadn't put another ball 

 into him. I left the lynx and the porcupine where 

 they fell, and butchered the deer, as I knew how hungry 

 you would feel, and made haste back to camp. So there 

 you have my morning's adventures." 



" They were more pleasant as well as more profitable 

 than ours," remarked Gaultier. " What do you think, 

 Jake?" 



"Wai, I dunno," answered the old hunter. "Once 

 on a time this child wa'n't troubled much wi' shootin' 

 Injuns ; but since I got Christianized last year at the 

 mission, I feels as ef I did somethin' that wa'n't edzactly 

 right whenever 1 throws one o' the critturs. I s'pose 

 it's all squar' this mornin', seein' as we wur actin' in 

 self-defence ; but somehow I'd rayther all the same that 

 the thing hadn't took place." 



" That is a perfectly natural feeling," said Pierre, 

 " and I feel similarly myself. I am surprised, however," 



