"
"Deal more openly with the nature and appearance of the animal," said
Content, a little less tranquil than usual; while the youths and maidens
placed themselves in attitudes still more strongly denoting attention.
Dudley pondered an instant, and then he commenced a less equivocal
enumeration of what he conceived to be the marvels of his tale.
"Firstly," he said, "there was no trail, neither to nor from the spot
where the creature had made its lair; secondly, when roused, it took not
the alarm, but leaped sportingly ahead, taking sufficient care to be
beyond the range of musket, without ever becoming hid from the eye; and
lastly its manner of disappearance was as worthy of mention as any other
of its movements."
"And in what manner didst thou lose the creature?"
"I had gotten it upon the crest of a hillock, where true eye and steady
hand might make sure of a buck of much smaller size, when--didst hear
aught that might be accounted wonderful, at a season of the year when the
snows are still lying on the earth?"
The auditors regarded one another curiously, each endeavoring to recall
some unwonted sound which might sustain a narrative that was fast
obtaining the seducing interest of the marvellous.
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