e 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 realised 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 strength
going fast. He was surprised that Crusoe did not come to his rescue,
and once he cleared his mouth and whistled to him; but as the deer gave
him another pounding for this, he didn't attempt it again. He now for
the