250 SHOT DEAD. 



were well founded, for he suddenly rose from his 

 couchant position, and commenced to descend the slop- 

 ing branch. 



Before he had gained the tree trunk, three reports 

 startled the echoes ; and leaping high from the branch, 

 the wolverine turned a complete somersault, and fell 

 heavily to the earth. The hunters leaped from their 

 ambush, and while the carcass still writhed and twitched 

 convulsively in the throes of death, old Jake unsheathed 

 his hunting-knife and commenced to deprive the car- 

 cajou of its shaggy hide. 



This operation was soon performed, and bearing the 

 trophy along with them, the three hunters left the Lick 

 and returned to the camp by the river. On the way., 

 while crossing a small glade, several deer were observed 

 flying towards the woods at the farther side. Levelling 

 his rifle at the last, Pierre took a quick aim and pulled 

 the trigger. Before he could see the result through the 

 smoke, old Jake called out, 



" Jehoshaphat ! that un's throwed clur. Well done, 

 young fellur ! I reckin it's a hunderd an' fifty yards at 

 least. That's the way to make 'em come." 



The hunters soon stood over the prostrate animal, 

 which was making frantic but vain efforts to rise. Jake 

 drew his knife across its throat, and wiped the drip- 

 ping blade with great nonchalance on his buckskin 

 breeches. 



" I reckin we'll have a chaw at oncest now," he ob- 

 served ; " but let us hoof it slick away to the camp." 



