146 THE WORLD OF ICR.

The deer bounded away, but stumbled as it went,
showing that it was wounded.

“Ha! ha! Meetuck,” exclaimed Fred, as he re-
charged in tremendous excitement (taking twice ag
long to load in consequence), “I’ve improved a little,
you see, in my shoot—oh bother this—ramrod !—
tut! tut! there, that’s it,”

Bang went Meetuck’s musket at that moment, ancl
the deer tumbled over upon the snow.

“Well done, old fellow:” cried Fred, springing
forward. At the same instant a white hare darted
across his path, at which he fired, without even put-
ting the gun to his shoulder, and knocked it over, to

 

his own intense amazement.

The three shots were the signal for the men to
come up with the sledge, which they did at full
gallop, O'Riley driving, and flourishing the long whip
about in a way that soon entangled it hopelessly with
the dogs’ traces.

“Ah, then, ye’ve done it this time, ye have, sure
enough. Musha! what a purty crature it is. Now,
isn’t it, West 2 Stop, then, won't ye (to the restive
dogs); ye’ve broke my heart entirely, and the whip’s
tied up into iver so many knots. Arrah, Mectuck !
ye may drive yer coach yerself for me, you may; I’ve
had more nor enough of it.”

In a few minutes the deer and the hare were lashed
to the sledge—which the Ivishman asserted was a
great improvement, inasmuch as the carcass of the
former made an excellent seat—and they were off