Looking up the glade, we saw a man in hunter's garb, who, having sprang out of the wood, had seized by the horns a wounded deer which was endeavouring to escape. The animal was making violent efforts to release itself, throwing back its head in a way which made it difficult for him to hold on. To protect himself he lifted up his rifle; one of the deer's hoofs missed him, but the other struck his weapon, and breaking his ramrod, brought him down on his knees. The creature was now about to renew the attack and a blow from his hoof might have shattered his skull, or at least have seriously injured him. Not a moment was to be lost. Scarcely thinking of the danger I ran of wounding the stranger, I lifted my rifle and fired, when the deer bounding up fell lifeless on its back. The stranger, rising from his knees, advanced towards us. He was a good-looking youngish man, though his face, naturally fair, was bronzed by summer suns and winter blasts. He was dressed in a blue blanket coat trimmed with red, a cloth cap of the same colour, with a broad peak, and ornamented moccasins. An axe and long knife were stuck in his belt; he had a serviceable-looking rifle in his hand, and behind his shoulders was strapped a pack, containing his buffalo robe and blanket, some provisions apparently; and several other requisite articles. He put out his hand in a frank manner as he walked up to Mr Tidey. "You have done me a service, friend; for that animal showed more fight than I expected, and might have injured me severely had not your shot taken effect, though it narrowly missed my head, I suspect." "Very glad to have been of use to you, but here's the person you should thank," said the Dominie, pointing to me. "I confess that it would have been more prudent not to have fired, for fear of hitting you," I answered as he shook me by the hand. "Though it was a risk, I am equally thankful. The shot was well aimed, and you have the right to the venison, my young friend," he said, looking at me. We told him that we had no wish to deprive him of it, but he insisted that the deer should be ours. We settled the point, however, by making him take a haunch, which was all he would accept. We now sent off Dio to bring up the horses, that we might load them with the meat: we in the meantime set to work to flay and cut up the animals, assisted by the stranger. "You will come to our camp and pass the night with us," said the Dominie as we were thus engaged. To our surprise the stranger declined our invitation. "I should prove but a poor companion, for I have been too long accustomed to live by myself to have any desire to join the society of my fellows," he answered, turning aside; "if I find that you are exposed to danger from the redskins, I will give you warning, and may be of assistance in enabling you to escape from them."