air they vanish instantly into the forest; their flying forms glance for a moment from tree to tree and they are gone―gone, as the Indian said afterwards to me, 66 au diable." Michel listens for a moment to the rush of the two deer through the woods; then, jumping to his feet with a fierce oath, walks back to the place where he had left his gun and snow-shoes and with many a bitter imprecation walks savagely back to camp. "Oh it was horrible, most horrible."

It takes the best part of my choice tobacco to soothe the outraged feelings of the keen old hunter; but he is firm in the belief that it will be of no use trying the Lac Rond ground for deer during the next two days. Pierre returns to camp soon after dark, to my great joy, speaks well of the ground he has been examining and, after a consultation with Michel, it is decided that we shall try it. The marching orders are short and simple each man beside his firearms and short-handled axe is to take two ship biscuits, a small piece of pork and a supply of matches; in addition to this simple fare I slip into the pocket of my blanket coat a small flask of brandy.

The early dawn sees us leave the camp, moving ghost-like over the soft snow, all of us clad in white blanket coats and leggings, our gun covers being of the same material. Michel leading, in Indian file, we move quickly across the lake and make for the big mountain opposite. No word is spoken by the men and yesterday's mishap makes me quiet enough. What a breather it was getting up that steep mountain side, but we are on the top at last and halt for a few minutes' rest.

As the summit is covered only by stunted hard-wood, I get a good view of the surrounding country and can make out nothing but lakes and round-shouldered mountains which roll away from the dark fir-clad hills close by into the far off distance grey and indistinct; but Indians have not much love for scenery and we soon commence the des

cent. Down we go leaning well back on our snow-shoes and keeping our toes well up; we half-trot, half-slide and, in a very short time, are once more on level ground; a couple of hours' walk brings us to the edge of another large lake and, here happens to me one of the most exciting day's sport I have ever enjoyed. It was about eleven o'clock and the lovely calm of the early morning yet continued although the sky was overcast with grey clouds and it was evident that the two previous fine days were weather breeders, and that a severe storm was not far off. We had advanced about two hundred yards on the surface of the lake, when bringing up the rear, I suddenly saw Michel fall flat on his face; Pierre followed suit, and not knowing the reason why, I cast myself headlong in the snow at his heels, and there we all lay, not a word being spoken to explain the cause of this very sudden movement. I feel very much inclined to laugh, but knowing that something is up, I manage to keep quiet and presently Michel whispers "Look," and raising my head very slightly, I peer along the smooth white surface of the lake and a sight meets my eye that sets my heart beating high with intense excitement. At first I see only some dark forms about a mile off, but showing plainly on the snow. These dark forms on the lake are a herd of seven cariboo deer coming straight for us. Michel now gently calls me and I wriggle along through the snow and lie down beside him. The deer are coming rapidly toward us and are now plainly discernible-three splendid bucks and four does, quite unsuspicious of danger for they are trotting briskly, they gambol as they come. I am shaking with suppressed excitement, and the two men stolid as wooden images lie by me keenly watching the deer, when, to my great disgust, the whole herd suddenly halt about two hundred yards off, surely they have winded us; but no! see that noble buck leads off and then begins the prettiest game of romps I ever looked at-they charge

each other with lowered antlers, but deftly the thrust is avoided, they leap into the frosty air with a grace and elegance that is charming to behold, and then race round and round, turning and leaping as gracefully as kittens. And now their romp is over, and bending his knees under him, a large buck quietly sinks down in the snow, and in a moment the rest of the herd follow his example; so there we are left on our faces in the snow watching the cariboo who are about two hundred yards off. The deer have unconsciously checkmated us for a time, for the Indians armed only with very wretched smooth-bores could not pretend to shoot at that distance, and though I carried an excellent Purdy rifle I felt so much excited that I was glad the men did not ask me to fire, in fact, they would have prevented me had I wished to shoot, as these men do not know, the power and accuracy of a first-rate Engfish rifle, and will always stalk their deer within fifty or sixty yards before they attempt Then Michel whispers his instructions in my ear. A belt of spruce wood ran out into the lake for a short distance and was about one hundred yards behind us and a little to our right, I was to make my way to this cover on my stomach and when he saw I was in position, he and Pierre would try and get within shot of the herd approaching the deer in such a way that if alarmed, some, if not the whole herd, would pass near enough to give me a shot. After lis

really scientific approach to my own un wieldy waddle. They have got about ha. the distance to the herd when the large buck which is nearest to them quickly turns he head in their direction and then I hear that whistling snort which proclaims that the ca riboo is sensible of danger, and turning hi head he butts the doe lying next to him: when both deer spring to their feet, the othe five immediately follow their example ar gaze anxiously about. They know there danger but cannot tell where to look for for the wind is favourable for the hunters and they cannot scent their foe, and as the tw men lie quiet in the snow they cannot them; but the big buck has taken a slig alarm, and as luck will have it, comes quiet trotting in my direction, the doe accompan ing him, the other deer remain standing ar gazing about. Now is the time for me t wipe out yesterday's disgrace-the two deare coming at a slow trot with rather a loos and shambling gait, I can distinctly hear t clatter of their large, broad hoofs, and m pretty sure of the doe who will pass atalo 75 yards, the buck will be a more diffe. shot for he is further off, and the first s will send him away like the wind; but r the doe is just opposite me, and dropp. on my knee I bring the sight of my dok Purdy to bear on her, low behind 2. shoulder, and at the report of the rifle s' springs up into the air and comes down do? with a ball through her heart: to my gr

stands sniffing the dead carcass.

This sudden and to me, very strang movement, rather upsets me, and before can recover he is off, but he offers a fine s shot, and when I fire he stumbles forward and comes down heavily on his knees, t it is only for a second-he is up again a: away at a tremendous pace. I load is quickly as possible, and as I run back fr my snow-shoes I see a dark form on the snow, which shows the Indians have kili another of the deer, and are now in full chase

of the others, but going in the opposite direction to that taken by the deer I had just shot at. Confident that I had hit the buck very hard, I go forward and examine the spot where he came down, but to my surprise I find no blood, and I make up my mind for a long chase and the prospect of a camp out alone. So tightening the belt which supports my axe, I start off at a sharp trot on the track of the cariboo, which leads straight through the bush to the foot of a mountain-the steep sides of which rise before me. I thought so! the buck has gone straight up, but there is no help for it ; up I go after him, soon I come to where the deer has laid down to rest, and a small patch of blood on the snow shows that my shot has told. Quickening my pace, I am soon on the summit: the cariboo is still going strong, and as I half slide down on the other side I am amazed at the tremendous strides with which he has descended. Again on level ground the track leads me out by a small river, down which the deer has taken, apparently going as strong as ever; down this river I follow for at least an hour, and am beginning to feel very much fagged, for it is now late in the day and I have worked very hard since dawn. I should be much relieved if I could throw off my coat, but I dare not do so yet, as beyond doubt I must sleep in the bush alone that night. But now the track of the wounded deer turns off the river, and I feel rather disheartened when I see another mountain before me, far up that hill the buck will go, and I doubt if I have the strength left to follow. But see! he has lain down again, and this time a large, deepred patch on the snow shows that the wound is severe. Now is the time to push him and, throwing off my coat, I start off at a rapid pace, and, running hard for about ten minutes, suddenly come on the gallant buck lying with outstretched neck on the snow stone dead. Fairly done up I place my rifle against the antlers of the buck and, seated on the carcase, take note of the situation.

Michel and Pierre are probably thirty miles away, for I calculate that I have come fifteen, and they no doubt have gone quite as far in an opposite direction-it is now, by my watch, four o'clock, and, if I felt equal to walking home to camp, there would not be light to follow my tracks back, so as it is quite clear that I must camp out alone, the sooner I commence making preparations the better. The first thing to be done is to go back for my coat. This is soon recovered, and I return to the deer, and selecting a good spot, take off my snow-shoes, and using one as a shovel clear a space large enough to build my fire and make my bed. It takes some time to collect sufficient fuel for the night, and, by the time all is ready, darkness has fallen on the forest, and the red glare from the fire throws flitting shadows on the trees near by, while the solemn stillness is only broken by the crackling of the dry logs and branches with which I keep feeding the flames. It is an awfully cold night, and I soon find out that sleep is impossible, so I take a little brandy, and cutting a steak from the deer, impale portions of the meat on hardwood skewers and roast them before the fire, the meat tastes delicious to me, and the cooking serves to pass the time. Again I try to sleep, but it is too horribly cold, and I jump up and once more build the fire

and thus I spend that long winter night. wishing for morning. Squatted on a log before the fire, I think I must have dozed occasionally, for I know that on looking at my watch for about the hundredth time I am surprised to find that the long, long night has passed, and the hands are pointing to seven o'clock.

The cold pale green of the eastern sky is beginning to change to yellow, and it is already light enough to commence preparations for my return to camp, and I am thinking what portion of the buck I shall take beside his head and antlers, when to my great joy I hear a welcome shout, and Michel soon after dashes in, and, giving a ring

ing whoop at the sight of the dead deer, shakes me vigorously by the hand. The good fellow had wounded one of the cariboo, and followed for many miles; then, thinking he had better look after me, had left Pierre to continue the chase, and returning on my track had camped within five miles of me. We take the skin and antlered head of the cariboo, and after eating some more steak and biscuit we tramp homewards, and arrive at the cabin at about four o'clock -the last two hours of our walk being made through a driving storm of snow, for the threatening weather of yesterday has broken, and a fierce gale of wind is roaring through the forest.

Lachance has been very lonely, he says, and is bien content to see us. The good lad is soon preparing supper, the fire is blazing brightly, and we are just sitting down to a good hot meal, when the wind lulls for a moment, and we hear a faint shout coming from the lake, and Michel, throwing open the door to allow the light to be seen, answers back-the long quavering whoop rises high over the storm, and the mocking demon-like shout is a fit accompanyment to the howling wind-but the signal is answered again, and soon Pierre comes in with the heads of two cariboo, making four killed out

of the herd of seven. His arrival is all we require to make us perfectly comfortable, and we fall to on our supper, winding up with a glass or rather tin of hot brandy and water all round; after which, rolled up in my blanket and thoroughly tired out, I am soon sound asleep.

I spend another week at the famous lake, and stalk five different deer. three of which I kill, and then we pack up for return home. and on the second day of our departure from the lake we reach Madame Lachance's. The good old soul is delighted to see us, and Pierre, who is bent on getting home that night, promises to send Antoine over for me in the morning. Early the next day. while taking a smoke at the door, I hear the sound of sleigh-bells and a clear voice chanting one of the simple hymns of the Church. rises on the frosty air, and Antoine comes driving quietly up the narrow road-the good fellow is as light hearted as ever, and profuse in his congratulations at the successful termination of my chasse. Carefully he stows away the antlered heads of five carboo, and, taking leave of Madame and Michel, I return to Quebec, and once more enjoy the undeniable comforts of civilized life.

EARL

CHAPTER XIX.

KARL RUDORFF IN PARIS.

ARLY one morning, a young man, who seemed a stranger in Paris, was admitted into the studio of the celebrated painter, Maurice Valaze. No artist's rooms in Paris were fitted up more expensively, or arranged with more perfect artistic taste, than these; and every afternoon they were crowded with visitors-artists and amateurs, beautiful women of rank, idle young men of fashion, all as sembled there. But the hour was yet too early for Maurice's distinguished visitors, and it so happened that he was just then alone, and at work finishing the portrait of one of the reigning beauties of Paris, who had chosen to be painted as the gipsy heroine of Victor Hugo's great novel, with her little pet goat at her feet.

Maurice looked handsomer than ever. He had acquired all the ease and polish of

a man of the world, added to the natural grace and refinement which had always been his, but there was a change in the expression of his face since the stranger had last seen it; there was a look of unrest in the eyes, a mocking and scornful smile on the lips which spoke of a weary and disappointed spirit. Looking round at the entrance of his visitor, he recognized at once in the tall, dark young man before him, the German artist, Karl Rudorff, whom he had known at Rome. Starting up, he welcomed his old companion heartily, and they were soon deep in pleasant reminiscences of the delightful days they had spent together in beautiful Italy.

"But what happy chance brings you to Paris, Karl?" asked Maurice. "I thought you were so hard at work at Munich that you could not have spared a moment from your labours, to gain a kingdom. I heard that King Ludwig had engaged you to