ake and to the line which he was running--the next
minute, with a redoubled clamor, they turned directly down to him. I
lost sight of him. But half a minute afterward, the sharp crack of his
rifle again rang upon the air, followed by a triumphant "Whoop!
who-whoop!" and then, I knew, another stag had fallen.

The beaters on the hill shouted again louder and louder than before--and
the hounds still raved on. By heaven! but there must be a herd of them
a-foot! And now the pack divides! The English hounds are bringing their
game down--here--by the Lord! just here--right in our very faces! The
Southrons have borne away over the shoulder of the hill, still running
hot and hard in Jolly Tom's direction.

"By heaven!" I cried, "look, Teachman! Garry, look! There! See you not
that noble buck?--he leaped that sumac bush like a race-horse! and see!
see! now he will take the water. Bad luck on it! he sees us, and heads
back!"

Again the fleet hounds rally in his rear, and chide till earth and air
are vocal and harmonious. Hark! hark! how Archer's cheers ring on the
wind! Now he turns once again--he nears the edge--how glorious! with
what a beautiful bold bound he leaped from that high bluff into the
flashing wave! with what a majesty he tossed his antlered head above the
spray! with how magnificent and brave a stroke he breasts the curling
billows!"

"Give way! my men, give way!"

How the frail bark creaks and groans as we ply the long oars in the
rullocks--how the ash bends in our sturdy grasp--how the boat springs
beneath their impulse.

"Together, boys! together! now--now we gain--now, Garry, lay your oar
aside--up with your musket--now you are near enough--give it to him, in
heaven's name! a good shot, too! the bullet ricocheted from the lake
scarcely six inches from his nose! Give way again--it's my shot now!"

And lifting my Joe Manton, each barrel loaded with a bullet carefully
wadded with greased buckskin, I took a careful aim and fired.

"That's it," cried Garry; "well done, Forester--right through the head,
by George!"

And, as he spoke, I fancied for a moment he was right. The noble buck
plunged half his height out of the bright blue water, shaking his head
as if in the death agony, but the next instant he stretched out again
with vigor unimpaired, and I could see that my ball had only knocked a
tine off his left antler.

My second barrel still remained, and without lowering the gun, I drew my
second trigge