something more definite. The caution of Jack rendered this difficult,
and it was because of the animal's hesitation that Fred succeeded in
reaching the spot from which to try a shot.

The lad sighted at the front of the game and his finger was pressing the
trigger, when, perhaps because of a sudden sight of Jack, the buck
turned about to flee. It was at this juncture that Fred fired.

The result was better than he expected. It is almost impossible to kill
a deer instantly, instances being known of one running a number of rods
with a bullet through his heart; but in this instance the buck,
gathering his forelegs under him, as if to leap a high obstruction,
bounded straight up in air and dropped back so close to the edge of the
cliff that he toppled over and came tumbling downward like a log of
wood.

The point where he fell was some distance away and out of sight of the
young hunter, who, with a delighted exclamation, rose to his feet and
began scrambling toward his prize. But for his excitement Fred would
have noted a singular thing. When the report of his rifle rang out in
the stillness, the echo from the face of the cliff sounded as sharp and
loud as the crack of his own weapon. The explanation of this speedily
became manifest.

Although the way was rough, the distance was so short that it took Fred
only a brief time to reach the inanimate body of the buck.

"Hank couldn't have beaten that shot himself! I must have driven the
bullet through his heart, which I shouldn't have done if he hadn't
started to flee at the instant I pulled trigger----"

At that moment an Indian, rifle in hand, stepped into view from among
the rocks, and with a grin on his face came toward the youth. Fred was
not dreaming of anything of the kind, and looked at the red man in
astonishment.

"Eh! howdy, brother? That my buck," said the Indian, with his painted
face still bisected by a tremendous smile.

The lad flared up on the instant.

"How do you make that out? I just shot him."

"No; me shoot him--he mine."

Fred's gorge continued to rise.

"You are not speaking the truth. I fired at him a few minutes ago and
saw him spring in air and fall over the cliff."

"Where you hit him?"

Ready to prove the truth of his own words, the youth stooped over the
carcass, which was lying on its left side. A crimson orifice was seen
just back of the foreleg, which showed where the tiny messenger of death
had entered.

"That's where I stru