BULLETS AND THEIR BILLETS 



The reader's quicker intuition has 

 doubtless enabled him to solve the mys- 

 tery. A line of footprints there was, 

 and close beside it another. These were 

 slightly deeper towards the woods, and 

 away from the river : also the steps had 

 been short : such steps as one would take 

 who had played a salmon at the river's 

 edge, was backing slowly to bring it to 

 gaff, and digging his heels in firmly as 

 he retreated. On the first glance at this 

 page of woodland script, so obscure to 

 the eye of the townsman, it had been de- 

 ciphered, and as inquiry showed, with 

 perfect accuracy. 



Comeau, whose modesty is not the 

 least delightful of his characteristics, is 

 fond of telling how his worst shot was 

 his best, how with his rifle he missed a 

 loon, and killed not only the bird he 

 aimed at but another. Holding on what 

 appeared to be the larger of two loons, 

 the bullet went wide, passed through the 

 head of the other, which was really the 



13 189 



