294 OTHER FISH AND GAME 



was exerting its every effort to elude pursuit and to 

 reach the shelter of the woods upon the opposite 

 shore no wonder that such a scene remains indelibly 

 imprinted upon the retina of the mind. Now the 

 canoe is apparently within two hundred feet of the 

 buck, who is close to the shore. Quite distinctly, 

 though nearly a mile away across the water, I can see 

 the doctor lift the rifle to his shoulder and take a 

 steady aim. And now for the quarry! With the 

 gun, which was mine that day, he had on the day pre- 

 ceding brought down every duck and partridge upon 

 which he had fired, and they were not a few either. 

 And now he has already drawn a bead upon the buck 

 with his rifle. Still it is at his shoulder, and yet there 

 is no report. Now the firearm is lowered, and yet 

 there has been no discharge. What can be the cause ? 

 Does so sure a shot desire a still greater advantage 

 over his game ? Surely now he can require no better. 

 The noble animal has pulled himself languidly, be- 

 cause of his fatigue, half out of the water upon the 

 rocky shore, and is almost broadside to the canoe as 

 he prepares to take the cover of the woods. Had 

 ever hunter his game so secure? Quickly to the 

 shoulder goes up the rifle ; the delay in firing seems an 

 age, waiting for the crash and the smoke that shall 

 salute the success of the hunter's prowess. The giant 

 caribou, proudly tossing his richly antlered head, was 

 just gaining the shelter of the forest, and now or 

 never must he receive the doctor's bullet. It is but 

 the twinkling of an eye, and there, look, the buck 

 has disappeared from view and not a discharge has 

 there been from the rifle I Soon was it all explained ! 



