Part 14 (1/2)

This proved to be the case Fritz was holding the buck at bay close to the edge of a thicket; but the ain broke, dashed into the thicket, and disappeared as before

Another half-ain, and then the dog had brought him to bay a second ti, the stag ot off

It wasbeen so sure of it, and all determined to follow out the chase if it should last the after the deer

Karl was a person of tender and hus He saw that the ball had broken the creature's thigh-bone, and he knew the wound would cause its death in the end He could not think of leaving it thus to die by inches, and was anxious to put an end to itsthe venison, he continued the chase

The stag gave theain, for the third tian to despair of being able to co the base of the cliffs, and the hunters as they ran after it could not help noticing the immense precipice that towered above their heads It rose to the height of hundreds of feet, in soenerally almost as vertical as a wall

The chase of the wounded stag, however, occupied tooelse veryanywhere--except for a ain breath Six or seven ti, and six or seven tiht him to bay, but Fritz for his pains had only received several severe scores froth approached the great gap in the cliff, through which they had first entered the valley, but the chase was carried past this point and continued on as before

Onceannounced that the deer had come to a stand; and once more the hunters hurried forward

This ti in a pool of water up to the flanks The ground gave Caspar an opportunity to approach within a few yards without being observed by the gae from the double-barrel put an end to the chase

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

AN ALARMING DISCOVERY

You will naturally suppose that this successful terreat satisfaction to the hunters It ht have done so under other circuhts of a far different nature

As they ca had fallen, and were preparing to drag it from the pool, their eyes rested upon an object which caused thenificance This object was no other than the hot spring--the place where the chase had begun Within less than a hundred yards of the spot where the stag had received his first wound was he now lying dead! The pool in fact was in the little rivulet that ran fro to the lake

I have said that the hunters on observing this exchanged significant glances One fact was evident to all of theot back to the spot whence they started A very little reasoning taught the they must have made the full circuit of the valley They had not turned back anywhere--they had not crossed the valley--they had not even been in sight of the lake during the whole chase On the contrary, Karl with Ossaroo had kept continually along the bottom of the cliffs, so across stretches of open ground

What was there remarkable about all this? It only proved that the valley was small, and of roundish forht make the circuit of it What was there in this discovery that should cause the hunters to stand gazing upon one another with troubled looks? Was it surprise at the stag having returned to die where he had received his wound? Certainly there was so a circumstance could not have clouded the brows of the hunters It was not surprise that was pictured in their looks--lances were those of apprehension--the fear of soer?

The three stood, Ossaroo lightly grasping his bow, but not thinking of the weapon; Karl holding his rifle with its butt resting on the ground, and Caspar gazing interrogatively in the face of his brother

For souessed what the other was thinking of The stag lay untouched in the pool, his huge antlers alone appearing above the surface of the water, while the dog stood baying on the bank

Karl at length broke silence He spoke half in soliloquy, as if his thoughts were busy with the subject

”Yes, a precipice the whole way round I saw no break--no signs of one

Ravines there were, it is true, but all seeh cliffs You observed no outlet, Ossaroo?”

”No, Sahib; me fearee de valley shut up, no clear o' dis trap yet Sahib”

Caspar offered no opinion He had kept farther out froht of the their tops fro of his brother's observations

”Then you think the precipice runs all around the valley?” he asked, addressing the latter

”I fear so, Caspar I observed no outlet--neither has Ossaroo; and although not specially looking for such a thing, I had otten our perilous situation of yesterday, and I wished to assure es that ran out of the valley, but the sides of all seemed to be precipitous The chase, it is true, keptthem very closely; but it is now time to do so If there be no pass out of this valley, then are we indeed in trouble These cliffs are five hundred feet in height--they are perfectly impassable by human foot Come on! let us know the worst”