attle, in which the intruder was soon conquered and driven back.

This delay stopped the herd for a time, and so Alec and his companion
were now about in a line with the front of the herd.

Only about a mile more had they to make ere they reached the desired
position, and so about half an hour before the deer arrived they were
well hidden and ready for action. They had taken the precaution to get
out, ready for use, their ammunition, so that, if they threw the herd
into confusion, they might have several shots ere the herd dashed away.

Soon the deer were so close to them that they could hear them very
distinctly. Cautiously the Indian watched them, and then, as arranged,
he signalled to Alec, who was stretched out behind a rock that had a
narrow cleft in it. This break was just large enough for a lookout, and
it would also serve as a good rest for the gun. As Alec cautiously
peeped through this narrow opening his heart gave a great thump, for
there within fifty yards of him were the most magnificent deer he had
ever seen. There was no difficulty now in picking out the leader.

So, pulling himself together, he waited until his heart stopped
thumping, and then, carefully and coolly aiming, so as to strike the
game immediately behind the fore shoulder, he fired. The deer gave one
great bound and dropped dead. Instantly there rang out another report,
as Alec's comrade fired, and another great deer fell dead. Now there
was one of those panics that occur among these reindeer when the leader
is suddenly shot down. They made no attempt to escape. They ran up to
where lay the fallen leader, and then they retreated a hundred yards or
so. Some ran one way and some another, and then veered around and
returned again.

In the meantime Alec and the Indian were carefully loading and firing,
until perhaps between them a dozen deer had been killed. Then the
Indian gave the signal to stop firing; but they continued to watch them
for several minutes more while panic-stricken and bewildered they
aimlessly ran from point to point.

"Look," said the Indian, "quick, see the new leader!"

And sure enough there was a great, handsome fellow snorting out his
notes of authority and defiance. None now disputed his guidance, and so
off he started, and in a few seconds not a deer, with the exception of
those that were shot, was visible. No hunters could get within range
now, nor for many a day to come.

"Why did you give the wor