ovements, and then, looming out of the
darkness, there vaguely appeared an enormous shape coming slowly and
cautiously toward the carcass of the deer. In another moment it had
advanced sufficiently to enable the watchers to observe the shape of its
monstrous head, and Phil saw that in some way the creature had managed
to free itself of the arrow which he had implanted in its left eye on
the preceding day; but the brute had doubtless lost the use of that eye,
for it could now be seen that it was closed, and that a small trickle of
blood was flowing from between the lids. As it slowly advanced, the
beast moaned frequently, while the disgusting odour which it exhaled
momentarily became stronger.

It had been agreed that if the beast could be enticed out of the water,
all three of the hunters should, at a given signal, discharge an arrow
at its right eye, and the trio were now standing, with bows fully bent,
awaiting the signal. Another moment, and the brute slightly raised its
head and halted, as though suspicious of danger. The slight raising of
the head was just what was required to enable a perfect aim to be taken,
and Phil at once gave the word "Shoot!"

The loud and practically simultaneous twanging of the three bows was
instantly followed by a hideous roar, and in another moment the great
beast, bellowing horribly, came charging right out of the cave, all but
crushing to death his adventurous enemies as he did so, for the three
had only just time to dodge behind a projection of the rock when the
monster rushed past them at a lumbering trot, to stumble and roll over,
just as it reached the open. For a moment the trio thought that in some
unaccountable manner they must have missed their aim, for as the
creature passed them they were unable to see any portion of the shafts
of their arrows protruding from its remaining eye. But it, too, was now
closed, and they presently concluded that, with the momentum imparted to
them by their exceedingly powerful bows, the arrows must have completely
buried themselves in the monster's eyeball. At all events it was
perfectly evident that the missiles had got home somewhere, for the huge
creature was now rolling and bellowing in agony, as it clawed
frantically at its eyes with its immense feet. It was a distressing
sight to see such an enormous animal suffering so intensely, so
presently Phil and Dick ran out, put fresh arrows to their bows, and
stood at a distance of about a