48 MR. PALLISER'S STORY. 



she fell lifeless on the broad of her back. I had made a 

 quick and necessarily a rather dangerous shot, but I was 

 in luck that day. * Sacre enfant du diable ! ' exclaimed 

 Boucharville, as he half rose from the ground, but looking 

 at nothing till he had satisfied himself that his rifle was 

 uninjured; 'mais qui 1'aurait eru? May foil' conti- 

 nued he, laughing, * j'ai bien echappe, une biche a un 

 cote et une balle a 1'autre !' ' 



The meal being concluded, the guard was changed, and 

 Bill received his share. Mr. Palliser then produced some 

 aqua vitse, which the mountaineers prize so highly and 

 often abuse themselves with deplorably. This served to 

 give new liveliness to the conversation. The fire was 

 heaped up anew. Pipes and tobacco were distributed, and 

 then as the clouds of smoke wreathed above us, we were 

 again entertained by our English friend. 



