ing his head
gravely, "you're never content when ye've got enough, but must always be
killing God's creatures right and left for pure sport. Haven't we got
one grey goose already for supper, an' that's enough for two men surely.
Of course I make no account o' the artist, poor cratur', for he eats
next to nothin'. Hows'ever, as your appetite may be sharper set than
usual, I've no objection to bring down another for ye."

So saying the hunter and the Indian crouched behind a bush, and the
former, while he cocked his gun and examined the priming, gave utterance
to a series of cries so loud and discordant, that any one who was
ignorant of a hunter's ways must have thought he was anxious to drive
all the living creatures within six miles of him away in terror. Jasper
had no such wish, however. He was merely imitating the cry of the wild
geese. The birds, which were at first so far-off that a rifle-ball
could not have reached them, no sooner heard the cry of their friends
(as they doubtless thought it) than they turned out of their course, and
came gradually towards the bush where the two men lay hidden.

The hunter did not cease to cry until the birds were within gunshot.
Then he fixed his eye on one of the flock that seemed plump and fat.
The long barrel of the gun was quickly raised, the geese discovered
their mistake, and the whole flock were thrown into wild confusion as
they attempted to sheer off; but it was too late. Smoke and fire burst
from the bush, and an enormous grey goose fell with a heavy crash to the
ground.

"What have you shot? what have you shot?" cried a shrill and somewhat
weak voice in the distance. In another moment the owner of the voice
appeared, running eagerly towards the two men.

"Use your eyes, John Heywood, an' ye won't need to ask," said Jasper,
with a quiet smile, as he carefully reloaded his gun.

"Ah! I see--a grey swan--no, surely, it cannot be a goose?" said
Heywood, turning the bird over and regarding it with astonishment; "why,
this is the biggest one I ever did see."

"What's yon in the water? Deer, I do believe," cried Jasper, quickly
drawing the small shot from his gun and putting in a ball instead.
"Come, lads, we shall have venison for supper to-night. That beast
can't reach t'other side so soon as we can."

Jasper leaped quickly down the hill, and dashed through the bushes
towards the spot where their canoe lay. He was closely followed by his
companions, and in