Up went the gun, but again its muzzle began to wabble. Rolf
lowered it, said grimly and savagely to himself, "I will not
shake this time." The deer stretched themselves and began slowly
walking toward the lake. All had disappeared but the buck. Rolf
gave another whistle that turned the antler-bearer to a statue.
Controlling himself with a strong "I will," he raised the gun,
held it steadily, and fired. The buck gave a gathering spasm, a
bound, and disappeared. Rolf felt sick again with disgust, but
he reloaded, then hastily went forward.
There was the deep imprint showing where the buck had bounded at
the shot, but no blood. He followed, and a dozen feet away found
the next hoof marks and on them a bright-red stain; on and
another splash; and more and shortening bounds, till one hundred
yards away - yes, there it lay; the round, gray form, quite dead,
shot through the heart. I
Rolf gave a long, rolling war cry and got an answer from a point
that was startlingly near, and Quonab stepped from behind a tree.
"I got him," shouted Rolf.
The Indian smiled. "I knew you would, so I followed; last night
I knew you must have your shakes, so let you go it alone.
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