OP THE OLD WORLD. 19 



cannot travel far, Hal, in that state," said Walter, 

 "so we will set the dog after him, and I do not 

 doubt but that he will soon brin.2; him to bay. 

 Hey, Ponto! fetch him, boy." The intelligent 

 animal looked up in his master's face, as if he 

 could there read what was required of him, then 

 made a cast with his nose along the ground, until 

 he got scent of the wounded deer, when off he set 

 at speed. 



We followed at our best pace, and after a sharp 

 run, had the gratification of hearing Ponto's deep 

 tongue echoing among the rocks. " Bravo, my 

 dog ! " cried Walter ; " keep up, Hal, for five 

 minutes longer, for by that cry I know the stag 

 is at bay." We tore down the slope of the hill 

 leading to the river, and there he was, standing 

 in the torrent, every now and then menacing 

 Ponto with bis antlers, who was swimming in the 

 stream, and had enough to do to evade his frantic 

 rushes. 



I was quite out of breath and powerless with the 

 run, but Walter, standing up, at once firm and col- 

 lected, took a deliberate aim with his unerring 

 rifle ; an echo was heard rumbling among the 

 rocks, and the stag, taking a mighty spring, 

 plunged into the stream, shot through the brain, 

 and rose a lifeless thing. 



The current, which was extremely rapid, bore 

 the carcass down for some distance, dashing it 

 amongst the rocks and whirling it in the eddies, 



