248 " KEEP YER PEEPERS SHINUF." 



a checkered light upon the spot where the hunters 

 expected to see the deer. 



" Your fire-stick has not been of any use after all, 

 Jake," whispered Pierre; "and there is light enough 

 now to shoot, if there were anything to fire at." 



"It's all -fired queer none o' the varmints hev kern," 

 answered Jake ; " but the thing mout ha' been o' use 

 for all that. What'n thunder's that ?" he exclaimed, as 

 a noise like falling shingle reached their ears. 



The three hunters listened attentively, and in the 

 deep stillness they distinctly heard a scratching sound, 

 which seemed to proceed from the summit of the bank 

 opposite their place of concealment. 



Presently this ceased, and all was as quiet as before. 



"I wonder what it can be?" whispered Gaul tier. 

 " Can you guess, Jake ?" 



" I hain't edzactly hit upon it yit," answered the old 

 hunter ; " but I hev an idee. Where around did you 

 see all them bones, Pierre ?" 



"Just over there," replied Pierre. "Some were on 

 the top of the bank, and the rest were scattered about 

 close by the bottom." 



"Then 'tis jest as I thort," said the old trapper. 

 "Boyees, keep yer peepers shinin', an' make raggles 

 o' whatever moves on top o' that bank. It's a car- 

 cajou's cached up there, waitin' for the deer. Kin yer 

 spot the skunk ?" 



Both Pierre and Gaultier strained their eyes, and 

 keenly scrutinized every uncertain appearance which, 



