This was done, and incredible as it may seem, without result. Struck it undoubtedly was, for it gave a slight twitch with its head, as a dog will do, when pestered with a fly, but it certainly was no more harmed than it would have been by such an insect. At so short a distance, with such a plain target, it would have been impossible for the bullets to miss their mark, so that no refuge from the difficulty could be taken in that supposition. The brute sat motionless a moment, with his gaze upon the burning faggots, and then rising from his sitting position, walked around to the other side of the fire, and took his seat directly under the sapling which was the refuge of Teddy O’Doherty. “Ye dirthy blaguard, ye needn’t come there,” he growled, as he looked down at him; “ye’re a dirthy dog, as me Bridget used to obsarve, affectionately, when she saw me comin’ in her shanty av Soonday avening.” “He’s fell in love with you,” remarked Black Tom, who thought he could afford to jest a little, so long as the brute made no active demonstrations against him. “I guess he’s turned watch-dog,” said Stebbins, “and is going to keep the other spooks away.” It may be stated that the demonstration which the trappers had just received of the invulnerability of the mysterious creature was complete in every respect. They would have staked any thing and every thing that it could have stood without flinching before a battery of columbiads. Under these circumstances, therefore, they did not deem it wise to waste any more powder in firing upon it. So they reserved their ammunition, and made themselves as comfortable as possible in their elevated position, waiting until it should take it into its head to depart. “S’pose he stays here a week or two?” said Stebbins. “Then we must do the same.” “Why didn’t we think of the fire?” muttered Black Tom. “What did yer want to think ’bout _that_?” asked old Stebbins. “If he don’t care fur rifle-balls, it’s likely he’s afeard of that. If I had only slammed a lot of fire in his face, he’d left.” “Better not try it,” returned the elder. “Why not?” “’Tain’t noways likely it would have hurt him, and he might have cotched you up and slammed you in the fire.” This was a fearful supposition, and all three shuddered at the thought of the brute venting his spite in such a manner. As it was certain that nothing could be done in the way of vanquishing the monster, the question now was as to how long he would remain. While he was present, no one could entertain any idea of descending, and if he should take it into his head to spend several days there, there certainly was reason to fear the most serious consequences. An hour passed and still the brute sat as motionless as a statue. Being several yards from the camp-fire, its fitful light gave him a most terrible appearance. The trio kept up a pointless conversation for a long time, Teddy gradually withdrawing from it, until he became silent altogether.