wering his head, rushed at the dogs, and lifting one in
the air threw it on its back. Immediately afterwards, while attempting
to treat the other in the same way, down he came on his knees. He was
still, however, a formidable antagonist, and might make poor Boxer pay
dearly for his boldness. The Dominie rushed forward to the dog's
rescue, but as there was a risk of wounding him, as well as the stag, I
refrained from firing. The Dominie, more confident, lifted his rifle,
and the stag rolled over dead. We ran forward to seize our prize. Dio
did not appear.

"He perhaps has gone round to bring up the other horses, or he may hope
to get another shot at the herd," observed the Dominie, as he drew out
his knife and commenced flaying the deer.

My first impulse was to see how it fared with poor Toby. He licked my
hand, and struggled to get on his feet. I was at first afraid that his
ribs were broken, but I could discover no wound, and after a few minutes
he began to revive, and tried to crawl up to share in the feast Boxer
was enjoying. We had nearly completed our task, when we heard another
shot, and after a short time Dio appeared at the end of the glade,
leading the two horses. He brought the satisfactory intelligence that
he had killed another deer. We accordingly packed up the meat, and
having placed Toby, who was still unable to walk, on the top of the
cargo, guided by Dio we mounted and proceeded to the spot where the
animal had fallen. Hitherto the black had been the most successful of
the party, but we did not grudge him the honour. We afterwards killed
two more deer; the Dominie shot one, and I the other. Our horses laden
with the welcome supply, we turned our faces towards the fort.

It was one of several equally successful expeditions we undertook, and
so pleased was the commandant with the amount of meat we brought in,
that he begged we would remain as long as we pleased, assuring us that
we paid amply for whatever other stores we consumed. My father and
uncle were now almost recovered, and proposed that we should continue
our journey in a few days. Mr Tidey and I agreed in the mean time to
make another expedition in search of game, hoping to catch enough to
take a supply with us, and leave the remainder with our friends. On
this occasion Dan got leave to accompany us, and he, with Dio and Martin
Prentis, formed our party. We had three pack-horses, and followed by
our two dogs, we set off.

D