a
lordly stag stalked slowly and majestically from out the copse. Luke
watched the actions of the noble animal with great interest, drawing
back into the shade. A hundred yards, or thereabouts, might be between
him and the buck. It was within range of ball. Luke mechanically grasped
his gun; yet his hand had scarcely raised the piece half way to his
shoulder, when he dropped it again to its rest.

"What am I about to do?" he mentally ejaculated. "Why, for mere pastime,
should I take away yon noble creature's life, when his carcass would be
utterly useless to me? Yet such is the force of habit, that I can scarce
resist the impulse that tempted me to fire; and I have known the time,
and that not long since, when I should have shown no such self-control."

Unconscious of the danger it had escaped, the animal moved forward with
the same stately step. Suddenly it stopped, with ears pricked, as if
some sound had smote them. At that instant the click of a gun-lock was
heard, at a little distance to the right. The piece had missed fire. An
instantaneous report from another gun succeeded; and, with a bound high
in air, the buck fell upon his back, struggling in the agonies of death.
Luke had at once divined the cause; he was aware that poachers were at
hand. He fancied that he knew the parties; nor was he deceived in his
conjecture. Two figures issued instantly from a covert on the right, and
making to the spot, the first who reached it put an end to the animal's
struggles by plunging a knife into its throat. The affrighted herd took
to their heels, and were seen darting swiftly down the chase.

One of the twain, meantime, was occupied in feeling for the deer's fat,
when he was approached by the other, who pointed in the direction of the
house. The former raised himself from his kneeling posture, and both
appeared to listen attentively. Luke fancied he heard a slight sound in
the distance; whatever the noise proceeded from, it was evident the
deer-stealers were alarmed. They laid hold of the buck, and, dragging it
along, concealed the carcass among the tall fern; they then retreated,
halting for an instant to deliberate, within a few yards of Luke, who
was concealed from their view by the trunk of the tree, behind which he
had ensconced his person. They were so near, that he lost not a word of
their muttered conference.

"The game's spoiled this time, Rob Rust, any how," growled one, in an
angry tone; "the hawks are upon us,