wound
which the hunter had given him was no doubt painful, and kept his
resentment from cooling. Unfortunately, it was not a mortal wound, as
Basil had every opportunity of seeing. The bullet had hit the
fore-shoulder; but, after tearing along the skin, had glanced off
without injuring the bone. It had only enraged the bull, without
crippling him in the least degree. Basil began to dread the result. He
was becoming faint with fatigue as well as hunger. When would he be
relieved? When would the fierce brute feel inclined to leave him?
These were questions which the hunter put to himself repeatedly, without
being able to divine an answer. He had heard of hunters being killed by
wounded moose. He had heard that these creatures will remain for days
watching a person whom they may have "treed." He could not stand it for
days. He would drop down with fatigue, and then the bull would gore and
trample him at pleasure. Would they be able to trace him from the camp?
They would not think of that before nightfall. They would not think of
him as "lost" before that time; and then they could not follow his trail
in the darkness, nor even in the light--for the ground was hard as a
rock, and he had made no footmarks. Marengo might trace him. The dog
had been left at the camp, as Basil preferred "still-hunting" without
him. But in his present situation the hunter's apprehensions were
stronger than his hopes. Even Marengo might be baffled in lifting the
scent. The trail was an exceedingly devious one, for Basil had
meandered round the sides of the hill in search of game. Deer or other
animals might have since crossed it, which might mislead the hound. It
would be cold at night, and much colder next morning. There were many
chances that no relief might reach him from the camp. Impressed with
this conviction, Basil began to feel serious alarm. Not despair,
however--he was not the boy to despair. His mind only grew more alive
to the necessity for action. He looked around to discover some means of
escape. His gun lay not a hundred yards off. Could he only get hold of
the piece, and return safely to the tree again, he could there load it
and put at end to the scene at once. But to reach the gun was
impossible. The moose would bound after and overtake him to a
certainty. The idea of getting the gun was abandoned.

In the opposite direction to that in which the gun lay, Basil perceived
that there were other trees.