he knew that there was some good reason for it, so he held
his trembling finger. Hardly had the animal's huge antlered head risen
to the sky-line when Mukoki shouted again, and the young hunter pressed
the trigger of his automatic gun three times in rapid succession. It was
a short shot, not more than two hundred yards, and Mukoki fired but once
just as the bull mounted the hilltop.

The next instant the moose was gone and Rod was just about to dash in
pursuit when his companion caught him by the arm.

"We got um!" he grinned. "He run downhill, then fall--ver' close to
camp. Ver' good scheme--wait heem git on top hill. No have to carry meat
far!"

As coolly as though nothing had occurred the Indian turned again in the
direction of the traps. Rod stood as though he had been nailed to the
spot, his mouth half open in astonishment.

"We go see traps," urged Mukoki. "Find moose dead when we go back."

But Roderick Drew, who had hunted nothing larger than house rats in his
own city, was not the young man to see the logic of this reasoning, and
before Mukoki could open his mouth again he was hurrying up the hill. On
its summit he saw a huge torn-up blotch in the snow, spattered with
blood, where the moose had fallen first after the shots; and at the foot
of the hill, as the Indian had predicted, the great animal lay dead.

Wabi was hastening across the lake, attracted by the shots, and both
reached the slain bull at about the same time. Rod quickly perceived
that three shots had taken effect; one, which was undoubtedly Mukoki's
carefully directed ball, in a vital spot behind the fore leg, and two
through the body. The fact that two of his own shots had taken good
effect filled the white youth with enthusiasm, and he was still
gesticulating excitedly in describing the bull's flight to Wabi when the
old Indian came over the hill, grinning broadly, and holding up for
their inspection a magnificent mink.

The day could not have begun more auspiciously for the hunters, and by
the time Mukoki was ready to leave upon his long trail the adventurers
were in buoyant spirits, the distressing fears of the preceding night
being somewhat dispelled by their present good fortune and the glorious
day which now broke in full splendor upon the wilderness.

Until their early dinner Wabi remained in camp, securing certain parts
of the moose and assisting Rod in putting the cabin into a state of
defense according to their previous plans.