MIGRATION AT MILLAIS'S LAKE 61 



and they must pass broadside on within a hundred yards. 

 With the quiet satisfaction of a man who has got what is 

 vulgarly called a "soft thing," I was just arranging a nice 

 clump of moss under my left arm when there was a sharp 

 whistle from "The Island," and I knew at once that something 

 had gone wrong. 



Rising up, there were the two caribou racing away back 

 to the river at full gallop. There was nothing left but to 

 sit down and try the stag before he should be completely 

 out of shot. The third bullet struck him on the left horn 

 and materially added to his fears, whilst the fourth just passed 

 his shoulder as he swung slightly to one side. Seeing that 

 he was about to turn quite broadside I kept the last cartridge 

 in the magazine for such a contingency, and to my relief 

 he not only did so, but slowed down to a walk as if about 

 to stop. 



The stag was now a good 300 yards away, but having a 

 good position and a fine light I pressed the trigger slowly, 

 feeling the shot was a gfood one. A loud crack and an 

 instantaneous start on the part of the deer showed that 

 the bullet had struck him. Nevertheless he went off again at 

 full gallop, falling twice into bogs, from which he extricated 

 himself with wonderful strength and skill, and then, with a 

 final effort, he made at full speed for the river, tripped 

 over a low bank, turned a complete somersault, and fell 

 dead. 



It was a moment of great exultation such as every hunter 

 experiences after making a long shot that is successful. 

 Saunders had seen the stag fall, and rushed out of " The 

 Island " waving his hat and shouting with glee. Our quarry 

 was a fine stag with a good Roman nose, such as only old 

 stags (of all species) possess ; but his horns were completely 



