ther shot.

The wounded elk was evidently severely hurt, for his pace now began to
slacken, so Uncle Jeff cheered us on. We saw, however, that unless we
could soon come up with the chase he might escape us altogether. The
appearance of the country had changed, too; while rocks arose at some
distance, there was evidently a vast intervening chasm between us and
them.

Once more Uncle Jeff fired, but, although the bullet took effect, the
deer continued his course. Almost immediately afterwards, what was our
disappointment to see the wounded animal, regardless of the fate he was
about to suffer, spring over the edge of a precipice, while the rest of
the herd scampered away towards some almost inaccessible rocks on the
left!

The elk was irretrievably lost. In vain we searched for a way by which
we might reach the bottom of the gorge; we were soon convinced that the
cliff was utterly impracticable.

"It can't be helped," cried Uncle Jeff; "but we must not give up the
hope of obtaining some venison this evening. The elk will not long
remain out on these barren rocks, and if we can hide ourselves near
where they have to pass, we may each of us kill one."

We were not long in finding some thick bushes behind which we could
kneel and take good aim at the passing deer.

"Do not let us be greedy," said Uncle Jeff; "you and Manley, Ralph,
select one animal, and I will take another."

In half an hour or less the deer came trotting back towards their former
feeding-ground, and we all three fired; Uncle Jeff knocked over a buck,
and we killed a doe.

It took us some time to cut them up, and it was nearly dark before we
reached the spot where I had shot the panther. Anxious to know whether
it was still alive, I made my way through the wood to the place, but
could nowhere find the animal. Had it escaped, notwithstanding its
wound? It was too dark, however, to search for it; so we hurried on as
fast as we could with our load of venison to the camp, where Clarice was
eagerly looking out for us. The huts were erected by this time, and a
blazing fire lighted; and I noticed that Clarice's tent had been
carefully staked round by the sergeant, so that no wild beast could
break suddenly into it.

"I am afraid, Miss Middlemore, that you will grow very weary of the
rough life we are compelled to lead," observed Manley.

"Oh no! I enjoy it very much indeed," she answered, looking up in his
face, "and shall be really sorry wh