A BALL BETWEEN THE EYES. 307 



self, I had the satisfaction of seeing the noose settle 

 round the barrel of the rifle, and on carefully tighten- 

 ing the string I hauled up the gun. 



" When the musk-ox saw this manoeuvre he charged 

 the rifle as it swung clear of the ground, and might 

 have seriously damaged it had I not quickly pulled it 

 out of his reach. He hit the rock with great force, 

 and staggered back from the effects of the concussion. 

 I was now, of course, extricated from my predicament. 

 The ox looked up at me, as much as to say, ' You had 

 better come down,' when he was met with a ball 

 between the eyes, which turned him upside down on 

 the spot. I then clambered down from my perch and 

 butchered the brute. As I said, I don't care much for 

 musk-ox in general, but I did eat that fellow with a 

 kind of relish." 



" That wur likely, you bet !' J exclaimed Jake. " This 

 niggur hev chawed varmints wi' double the pleasure 

 arter bein' nigh done fur by 'em." 



" Come, Gaultier," said Pierre, " tell us about your 

 first fire-hunt. I don't think you ever told Jake 

 about it." 



Gaultier laughed and complied readily. 



" It is only fair," he said, " that I should contribute 

 my share to the general amusement, although my 

 adventure was not so thrilling as those with which 

 Jake regales us ; nor even as yours with the musk-ox, 

 Pierre. 



" I was staying with a friend some years since," he 



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