The crack of a rifle rang through the woods. Three frightful yells
were heard, and two sullen roars. Five animals bounded into the
air and five lifeless bodies lay upon the plain. The well-aimed
bullet had done its work. Entering the open throat of the grizzly,
it had traversed his body only to enter the throat of the
California lion, and in like manner the catamount, until it passed
through into the respective foreheads of the bull and the buffalo,
and finally fell flattened from the rocky hillside.
Genevra turned quickly. "My preserver!" she shrieked, and fell
into the arms of Natty Bumpo, the celebrated Pike Ranger of Donner
Lake.
CHAPTER V.
The moon rose cheerfully above Donner Lake. On its placid bosom a
dug-out canoe glided rapidly, containing Natty Bumpo and Genevra
Tompkins.
Both were silent. The same thought possessed each, and perhaps
there was sweet companionship even in the unbroken quiet. Genevra
bit the handle of her parasol and blushed. Natty Bumpo took a
fresh chew of tobacco. At length Genevra said, as if in half-
spoken revery:--
"The soft shining of the moon and the peaceful ripple of the waves
seem to say to us various things of an instructive and moral
tendency.
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