report of the gun came from an
opposite direction to that of our camp. For an instant I thought that
Dio must have crept away, but looking round I saw that he was close to
us, the shot must therefore have been fired by a stranger, who could not
have been aware of our vicinity. Fearing to lose the stags, we sprang
forward; at the same time our two dogs dashed out. Mr Tidey aimed at
one of the animals and I at the other. Though both fell, each creature,
under the belief that his hurt had been received from his antagonist,
though brought to the ground, continued to butt furiously at the other,
until the dogs came up, and they turned their rage towards them. We
stopped to reload and call off the dogs, for fear of their being
injured. But the stags were fast succumbing from loss of blood; and
getting up to them, we put an end to their struggles.

We were still standing over their bodies, forgetting for a moment the
shot we had heard, when Dio shouted out--

"See dare, see dare!"

Looking up the glade, we saw a man in hunter's garb, who, having sprang
out of the wood, had seized by the horns a wounded deer which was
endeavouring to escape. The animal was making violent efforts to
release itself, throwing back its head in a way which made it difficult
for him to hold on. To protect himself he lifted up his rifle; one of
the deer's hoofs missed him, but the other struck his weapon, and
breaking his ramrod, brought him down on his knees. The creature was
now about to renew the attack and a blow from his hoof might have
shattered his skull, or at least have seriously injured him. Not a
moment was to be lost. Scarcely thinking of the danger I ran of
wounding the stranger, I lifted my rifle and fired, when the deer
bounding up fell lifeless on its back. The stranger, rising from his
knees, advanced towards us. He was a good-looking youngish man, though
his face, naturally fair, was bronzed by summer suns and winter blasts.
He was dressed in a blue blanket coat trimmed with red, a cloth cap of
the same colour, with a broad peak, and ornamented moccasins. An axe
and long knife were stuck in his belt; he had a serviceable-looking
rifle in his hand, and behind his shoulders was strapped a pack,
containing his buffalo robe and blanket, some provisions apparently; and
several other requisite articles. He put out his hand in a frank manner
as he walked up to Mr Tidey.

"You have done me a service, friend; for that anim