river, with Wolf following closely
behind him, he noticed suddenly a movement in the undergrowth amidst the
timber, just like the branch of a tree being moved slowly up and down.

Watching the spot carefully, he subsequently thought he could
distinguish two little round objects that glared like the eyes of some
animal; so aiming steadily between these latter, after a brief pause he
fired.

His suspicions proved correct; for, almost at the same instant that the
report of his rifle rang out in the clear air, a magnificent wapiti
stag, with wide branching antlers, leaped from the covert, and bounded
across his line of sight towards the hills on the right; although from
the halting motion of the animal he could see that his shot had taken
effect.

"At him, Wolf!" cried he to the dog. But Wolf did not require any
command or encouragement from his master: he knew well enough what to
do.

Quick as lightning, as soon as the wounded stag had jumped out from
amidst the brushwood the dog leaped after him, and, in a few strides,
was at his quarters. The chase was not of very long duration, for
Ernest's bullet had touched some vital spot; and, within a hundred yards
of where he had been struck, the wapiti dropped on his knees, made a
faint attempt to stagger again to his feet, and an equally unsuccessful
effort to gore Wolf, who wisely kept without his reach; and then, with a
convulsive tremor running over all his vast frame, fell over on his
side, dead!

"Hurrah!" shouted Ernest, so loudly that Mr Rawlings, who was not very
far off, heard his shout as well as Wolf's deep baying, and was soon on
the spot, where mutual congratulations were exchanged at the noble game
the young engineer had brought down so unexpectedly.

"Golly, massa!" exclaimed Jasper, his face expanding into one of his
customary huge grins that seemed to be "all ivory and eye-balls," as
Seth used to say--"why, um will serb de camp in meat um whole week!"

"You're not far wrong," said Mr Rawlings, as he surveyed the heavy
carcase of the wapiti, which was as big as an ordinary-sized pony, with
a splendid pair of branching antlers; "and you'll have to go back and
fetch the small waggon and a team of mules, Jasper, to take it home.
It's a very fine animal, Wilton," he continued, turning to the latter,
"and I almost envy you your shot!"

The young engineer made some chaffing answer, ascribing the credit of
taking the game to Wolf, who stood panting guard ov