Then, suddenly, Raoul raised himself upon his knees, and pointing his gun at the moose's head, pulled the trigger.
"SUDDENLY, RAOUL RAISED HIMSELF UPON HIS KNEES."
At the report the big brute pitched forward upon its antlers, almost turning a somersault, and La Tour with an exclamation of joy ran to Raoul, and lifting him up clasped him to his breast, crying:
"Bravo! my nephew, bravo! That was a splendid shot. I never thought you could do it."
But hardly had the words left his lips than his exultation changed to alarm, for the moose, which had been only stunned by the bullet, and not mortally wounded, rose to its feet again to renew the charge.
Happily the shock of the bullet had bewildered it so that it went off at a tangent, and ere it could recover itself La Tour had hurried Raoul to safe shelter behind a mighty tree.
Hastily reloading his gun, an action which Raoul lost no time in imitating, La Tour watched his chance to give the great animal a final shot.
After plunging about for a little it once more located its assailants, and, looking very terrible in its rage, made another furious rush at them.