CHAPTER VI
IN THE NICK OF TIME
As it happened, the snow did not lie very heavily at this particularplace, and the great creature was able to move with tremendous speed.
"Look out, Raoul!" shouted La Tour, as he darted aside to evade themoose's onset. "Get behind a tree, and then fire at him."
This was precisely what Raoul had in mind to do, and he made a gallanteffort to accomplish it, but unfortunately in his haste he caught hissnow-shoes together, and over he went headlong into the snow with suchviolence as to nearly bury himself.
Confused by the fall, and blinded by the snow, he lay there helplessly,while the bull moose, infuriated by its wound, and seeing only theprostrate boy to account for it, bore down upon him with murderousintent.
He fully realized his danger, and yet felt powerless to avert it, forto regain one's feet after a tumble with snow-shoes on is no easymatter.
In the meantime La Tour had rushed out from behind the tree, and bywaving his arms and shouting, strove to attract the attention of theanimal to himself until Raoul should have time to get upon his feetagain, and find a place of safety.
But the moose was not to be thus diverted from its victim, and kept onuntil it was within ten yards of Raoul, whose fate now seemed to besealed.
La Tour, quite forgetting himself in his anxiety for the boy, made adesperate effort to get in between him and the animal, and groanedaloud as he saw that it could not avail.
Then, suddenly, Raoul raised himself upon his knees, and pointing hisgun 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, almostturning a somersault, and La Tour with an exclamation of joy ran toRaoul, and lifting him up clasped him to his breast, crying:
"Bravo! my nephew, bravo! That was a splendid shot. I never thoughtyou could do it."
But hardly had the words left his lips than his exultation changed toalarm, for the moose, which had been only stunned by the bullet, andnot mortally wounded, rose to its feet again to renew the charge.
Happily the shock of the bullet had bewildered it so that it went offat a tangent, and ere it could recover itself La Tour had hurried Raoulto safe shelter behind a mighty tree.
Hastily reloading his gun, an action which Raoul lost no time inimitating, La Tour watched his chance to give the great animal a finalshot.
After plunging about for a little it once more located its assailants,and, looking very terrible in its rage, made another furious rush atthem.
This they both evaded without difficulty, and then La Tour got theopportunity he sought, and sent a bullet into the heart of the mightycreature, which brought its career to a sudden end.
"Phew!" he exclaimed in a tone of profound relief, as he took off hisfur cap and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. "That was livelywork, wasn't it, Raoul? What a grand fight the old fellow did make!He pretty nearly had you under his hoofs. You managed to fire in thenick of time. That was a clever shot, my boy, and I am proud of youfor it."
Raoul flushed with pleasure at his uncle's praise, which he appreciatedall the more because La Tour was far more prone to find fault than toexpress approval.
"I thought it was all over with me, Uncle Charles," he said, "for thesnow had got into my eyes so that I could not see properly, but I didthe best I could."
"And a very good best it was, my boy. No man could have done better.You'll make a fine hunter when you're full grown. Ah, ha! here comesome of the men. I wonder what fortune they have had."
Attracted by the sound of the firing, the rest of the hunting party hadhurried to the scene, and La Tour was in his element as he proudlydisplayed the fallen monarch.
"Raoul and I are partners in him," he said laughingly. "Raoul hit himin the head, and I hit him in the heart, but he came within an ace offinishing Raoul first." And he then proceeded to relate what hadhappened.
Raoul was warmly congratulated upon his lucky escape, and upon theexcellence of his marksmanship, and everybody rejoiced over thesplendid prize which had been secured, for the moose was in superbcondition, and would supply them with savoury steaks and roasts formany days.
After what had occurred at the moose hunt, it was evident that hisuncle regarded Raoul in a different light. He dropped his banteringtone toward him, and treated him more on an equal footing, and Raoulfully appreciated the change.
During the remainder of their trip they were favoured with such goodfortune--the game proving plentiful all along the route, and theIndians whose villages they visited being so well supplied with fursand so eager to trade--that La Tour, in high good humour, told Raoul hebrought him good luck, and must accompany him again.
The whole party got back to Fort St. Louis without a mishap, and theneverybody settled down for the winter, as there were to be no moretrading expeditions.
But Madame La Tour did not suspend her missionary work because it waswinter time. As soon as her husband had returned and relieved her ofthe charge of the fort, she resumed her visits to the Indianencampments. This was the best season for what she sought toaccomplish, because the men were about the wigwams most of the time,and she could get a hearing from them as well as from the women andchildren.
Raoul usually went with her. He liked the idea of being in some senseher protector, and she was always such good company that the hoursnever seemed long that were spent in her society.
He always carried his gun, not that there was anything to fear from theIndians. They were altogether to be trusted. But some wild animalmight be encountered that would venture to attack, or that might beworth having a shot at, any way.
Right glad he was that he did have his gun one afternoon when he andhis aunt were returning from a day spent at the Souriquois village,where the good woman had been teaching the squaws, not only how to beChristians, but also how to be better wives and mothers.
They were walking rapidly, and talking busily, when a horrible screamthat sent a chill of terror to their hearts, and caused them to stopsuddenly in the path, issued from the thick woods in front of them.
A stranger would have been at a loss to guess what sort of creaturecould produce so frightful a sound, but Madame La Tour recognized it atonce, and she perceptibly shrank closer to Raoul as she said in astartled voice:
"It is a _loup cervier_, Raoul, and right in our way!"