l raised himself upon his knees, and pointing his
gun at the moose's head, pulled the trigger.

[Illustration: "SUDDENLY, RAOUL RAISED HIMSELF UPON HIS KNEES."]

At the report the big brute pitched forward upon its antlers, almost
turning a somersault, and La Tour with an exclamation of joy ran to
Raoul, and lifting him up clasped him to his breast, crying:

"Bravo! my nephew, bravo! That was a splendid shot. I never thought
you could do it."

But hardly had the words left his lips than his exultation changed to
alarm, for the moose, which had been only stunned by the bullet, and
not mortally wounded, rose to its feet again to renew the charge.

Happily the shock of the bullet had bewildered it so that it went off
at a tangent, and ere it could recover itself La Tour had hurried Raoul
to safe shelter behind a mighty tree.

Hastily reloading his gun, an action which Raoul lost no time in
imitating, La Tour watched his chance to give the great animal a final
shot.

After plunging about for a little it once more located its assailants,
and, looking very terrible in its rage, made another furious rush at
them.

This they both evaded without difficulty, and then La Tour got the
opportunity he sought, and sent a bullet into the heart of the mighty
creature, which brought its career to a sudden end.

"Phew!" he exclaimed in a tone of profound relief, as he took off his
fur cap and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. "That was lively
work, wasn't it, Raoul? What a grand fight the old fellow did make!
He pretty nearly had you under his hoofs. You managed to fire in the
nick of time. That was a clever shot, my boy, and I am proud of you
for it."

Raoul flushed with pleasure at his uncle's praise, which he appreciated
all the more because La Tour was far more prone to find fault than to
express approval.

"I thought it was all over with me, Uncle Charles," he said, "for the
snow had got into my eyes so that I could not see properly, but I did
the best I could."

"And a very good best it was, my boy. No man could have done better.
You'll make a fine hunter when you're full grown. Ah, ha! here come
some of the men. I wonder what fortune they have had."

Attracted by the sound of the firing, the rest of the hunting party had
hurried to the scene, and La Tour was in his element as he proudly
displayed the fallen monarch.

"Raoul and I are partners in him," he said laughingly. "Raoul hit him
in the he