g only two deer instead of three; for I was to reserve my fire
for his benefit, and I ardently hoped I should not miss. I tried to make
Manley understand that it would be prudent in him not to fire until he
saw whether my bullet took effect, but I could not be certain what he
would do.

Our progress was now slower than ever. Several times the deer had looked
up, apparently suspecting that danger was near; but still Uncle Jeff
advanced, in a stooping posture, unwilling to stir even the smallest
twig for fear of alarming the wary herd. I moved on more rapidly; the
panther was now not more than twenty yards from us, and would in a few
seconds make his deadly spring.

Suddenly Uncle Jeff stopped, raised his rifle to his shoulder, and
fired. The panther at that moment was rising, about to dash forward from
the brushwood. I pulled the trigger; at the same instant Manley
fired--he had aimed at the deer--and as the smoke cleared away I saw the
panther fall back on the ground.

The deer were now in full flight, so I followed Uncle Jeff and Manley in
the direction the herd were taking towards the north end of the valley.
What means they had of escape we could not tell; we hoped that, shut in
by the mountain, we might again get near enough to have another 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.

[Illustration: DISAPPOINTED HUNTERS.]

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