ceful collar, which
Dick wore round his neck ever after with as much pride as if he had
been a Pawnee warrior.

When it was finished he held it out at arm's-length, and said,
"Crusoe, my pup, ain't ye proud of it? I'll tell ye what it is, pup,
the next time you an' I floor Caleb, I'll put the claws round _your_
neck, an' make ye wear em ever arter, so I will."

The dog did not seem quite to appreciate this piece of prospective
good fortune. Vanity had no place in his honest breast, and, sooth to
say, it had not a large place in that of his master either, as we may
well grant when we consider that this first display of it was on the
occasion of his hunter's soul having at last realized its brightest
day-dream.

Dick's dangers and triumphs seemed to accumulate on him rather thickly
at this place, for on the very next day he had a narrow escape of
being killed by a deer. The way of it was this.

Having run short of meat, and not being particularly fond of grizzly
bear steak, he shouldered his rifle and sallied forth in quest of
game, accompanied by Crusoe, whose frequent glances towards his
wounded side showed that, whatever may have been the case the day
before, it "hurt" him now.

They had not gone far when they came on the track of a deer in the
snow, and followed it up till they spied a magnificent buck about
three hundred yards off, standing in a level patch of ground which was
everywhere surrounded either by rocks or thicket. It was a long shot,
but as the nature of the ground rendered it impossible for Dick to get
nearer without being seen, he fired, and wounded the buck so badly
that he came up with it in a few minutes. The snow had drifted in the
place where it stood bolt upright, ready for a spring, so Dick went
round a little way, Crusoe following, till he was in a proper position
to fire again. Just as he pulled the trigger, Crusoe gave a howl
behind him and disturbed his aim, so that he feared he had missed; but
the deer fell, and he hurried towards it. On coming up, however,
the buck sprang to its legs, rushed at him with its hair bristling,
knocked him down in the snow, and deliberately commenced stamping him
to death.

Dick was stunned for a moment, and lay quite still, so the deer left
off pommelling him, and stood looking at him. But the instant he moved
it plunged at him again and gave him another pounding, until he was
content to lie still. This was done several times, and Dick felt his
strengt