SUDDEN DESTRUCTION. 267 



to ascend the bank. This was the moment for which 

 old Jake had waited. As the Indians climbed the 

 slight declivity they fell into line, and at that instant 

 the hunter pulled the trigger. The hindmost savage 

 sprang from the ground, and rolling down the bank lay 

 motionless with outstretched arms by the verge of the 

 creek. The other dropped his rifle, and after falling 

 once or twice, reached the bushes on the summit of 

 the slope, where he finally fell, incapable of further 

 effort. 



Concealment was, of course, no longer necessary. 

 Jake therefore took a pole, and forced the raft out into 

 the stream. As he left the friendly shelter of the cove 

 he observed an Indian lodge on a little open spot 

 adjoining the water. This clearly was the hut of the 

 three ill-fated savages. Jake leaned a moment on his 

 oar debating whether to visit the hut and appropriate 

 to his own use the effects of its late owners ; but being 

 anxious to rejoin his friends, he decided to postpone 

 this proceeding for the present. He therefore used his 

 pole vigorously, and soon entered the broad stream of 

 the Athabasca. Here his labours were confined to 

 keeping the raft to the centre of the river, whose 

 powerful current bore him rapidly downwards. In 

 about three hours he had the gratification of seeing the 

 glare of a camp fire reflected upon the river, and with 

 an exultant shout the old trapper directed his raft 

 towards the bank, where he was immediately met by 

 Pierre and Gaultier, who pressed him with eager in- 



