Just as he pulled the trigger, Crusoe gave a howl behind him and disturbed his aim, so that he feared he had missed; but the deer fell, and he hurried towards it.

On coming up, however, the buck sprang to its legs, rushed at him with its hair bristling, knocked him down in the snow, and deliberately commenced stamping him to death.
Dick was stunned for a moment, and lay quite still, so the deer left off pommelling him, and stood looking at him.

But the instant he moved it plunged at him again and gave him another pounding, until he was content to lie still.

This was done several times, and Dick felt his strength going fast.

He was surprised that Crusoe did not come to his rescue, and once he cleared his mouth and whistled to him; but as the deer gave him another pounding for this, he didn't attempt it again.
He now for the first time bethought him of his knife, and quietly drew it from his belt; but the deer observed the motion, and was on him again in a moment.