its

bad shooting.

Further comment upon it was checked by the arrival

of a dozen or more hunters on the scene of action.

They were a sturdy set of bronzed, bold, fearless men,

and one felt, on looking at them, that they would prove

more than a match for several hundreds of Indians in

open fight. A few minutes after, the major himself

came on the ground with the prize rifle on his shoulder,

and Fan and Crusoe at his heels--the latter tumbling,