he other side of the ridge and halted on the crest, as if
he scented something amiss. He could not see the two below him, but his
own form was thrown into relief against the starlit sky. The beautiful
creature with the branching horns, the delicate ears, the shapely head
and body, looked as if stamped in ink in the dim star-gleam.

Deerfoot touched the shoulder of Whirlwind as a warning for him to keep
still. The intelligent animal maintained his statue-like pose, and the
youth began stealing toward the buck, his cocked rifle grasped with
both hands and ready to bring to a level and fire on the instant. The
space between the two was fifty or sixty yards, which would have been
nothing by daylight. The youth wished to decrease it as much as he
could because of the darkness, so as to run no risk of missing his aim.

It may not sound poetical, but it is only simple fact that with the
sight of the buck unconscious of his danger the dominant emotion of the
Shawanoe was a sense of ravening hunger. It was a long time since he
had partaken of food and his appetite was worthy of Victor Shelton. He
meant that that buck should fill the aching void that vexed him.

A phantom gliding over the ground would have given out no more noise
than was made by the moccasins of the Shawanoe; but the timid animal
snuffed danger and wheeled to dash away. At the instant of doing so,
Deerfoot fired, sending the ball into the body just back of a fore leg.
The _cervus_ species rarely or never fall, even when stricken through
the heart, knowing which, Deerfoot dashed up the slope, knife in hand,
and made after the wounded buck, which could be heard threshing among
the stones and underbrush. He was still floundering and running when
overtaken by the youth, who quickly ended his suffering.

The next act of Deerfoot was to reload his rifle, after which he cut a
goodly piece from the side of the game and carried it back to where
Whirlwind was waiting. The venison was washed and dressed, after which
the youth groped about for fuel with which to start a fire. This proved
quite a task, but he succeeded after a time, and then made one of the
most substantial meals he had eaten in a long while. When it was
completed hardly a fragment was left, and he felt he was provided for
in the way of nourishment for a day or two to come, though he saw no
reason to fear any such deprivation of food.

The Shawanoe could never forget his caution. While there was little
p