, and Armitage and Story in another, with our guns, along the
rocky heights which extended away to the northward, while Dick
volunteered to look after the horses and keep our fire burning.

We went on for some distance without falling in with any large game, and
we were unwilling to expend our powder on small birds. Charley at last
proposed that we should descend into the plain in the hopes of finding
some animals killed by the fire.

"Very little chance of that," I remarked, "for by this time the wolves
have eaten them up. We are more likely, if we keep on, to fall in with
deer on the opposite side, where the fire has not reached."

We accordingly crossed the ridge, and were making our way to the
westward, when we heard Armitage's dog giving tongue in the distance.

"They have found deer, at all events, and perhaps we may be in time to
pick off one or two of the herd," I exclaimed.

We scrambled along over the rocks, until we reached the brink of a low
precipice, looking over which we caught sight of a magnificent buck with
a single dog at his heels. Just then the stag stopped, and, wheeling
suddenly round, faced its pursuer. Near was a small pool which served
to protect the stag from the attack of the hound in the rear. It
appeared to us that it would have gone hard with the dog, for at any
moment the antlers of the stag might have pinned it to the ground. We
concluded, from not hearing the other dogs, that they had gone off in a
different direction, leaving this bold fellow--Lion, by name--to follow
his chase alone.

We crept along the rocks, keeping ourselves concealed until we had got
near enough to take a steady aim at the stag. I agreed to fire first,
and, should I miss, Charley was to try his skill. In the meantime the
dog kept advancing and retreating, seeking for an opportunity to fly at
the stag's throat; but even then, should he succeed in fixing his fangs
in the animal, he would run great risk of being knelt upon. The deer
was as watchful as the dog, and the moment the latter approached, down
again went its formidable antlers. Fearing that the deer might by some
chance escape, taking a steady aim I fired. To my delight, over it
rolled, when we both sprang down the rocks and ran towards it.

While I reloaded, Charley, having beaten off the dog, examined the deer
to ascertain that it was really dead. We then set to work to cut up our
prize, intending to carry back the best portions to the ca