Part 19 (1/2)

Max insisted on changing loads with him when they were halfway home.

”I can carry it better than you with your sore shoulder, Steve,” he said, when the other started to protest; ”besides, I've made this bundle of venison so it can be tied on your back. You'll find it a relief. Don't say another word, for you've just _got_ to do it. All very good to show how plucky and game you are, old fellow, but if you should get knocked out by too much exertion, why, don't you see, it'll break up the whole shooting match for the rest of us?”

Max put it that way for a purpose. He knew Steve's generous nature, and that the other could be prevailed upon to do a thing for the sake of his chums, when he would not budge so far as any personal benefit was concerned.

”Oh, well, if that's so, perhaps I'd better throw the old thing away,”

Steve declared.

”No,” said Max, ”that would be foolish, after you've carried it two miles now. Besides, I feel sure Uncle Jim'd like to see the cat. If he knows his old tricky enemy has really and truly kicked the bucket, he'll rest easier this year. One thief like this can give a trapper heaps of trouble. He learns to look for his dinners in the traps.”

”All right, then, Max; but it's awful good of you to change over,”

declared Steve. ”Why, this load ain't a circ.u.mstance beside mine. I'm sorry for you, though, and if--”

”Let up on that sort of talk, please, Steve. If I find it too much I'll own up. Then Toby here can take his turn.”

”S-s-sure thing,” a.s.sented the party mentioned, smiling good-naturedly.

But, after all, Max carried the trophy of Steve's shots close to the camp. Then, thinking the other might like to be seen coming in with his own game, he made him change again, though Steve winced as he worked his lame shoulder.

The others had returned, and were all busily engaged with the trophies of the traps.

Trapper Jim, upon finding that Owen and Bandy-legs manifested a certain amount of interest in all he did, took great pleasure in showing them just how the skins must be removed from the animals and fastened securely to the stretching boards, so they would not shrivel up when drying.

He managed to impart considerable interesting information while working, and Owen, determined not to get all these facts twisted, was seen to be scribbling something down every little while.

When they saw what const.i.tuted Steve's load, and heard from Max and Toby the true story of how the savage animal was shot while making a leap toward the young Nimrod, admiring looks were cast on Steve.

”Gewhittaker, but ain't he a savage-looking old monster, though!”

declared Bandy-legs, examining the dead cat; ”a whole lot bigger'n that one we got in the Great Dismal Swamp, fellows, let me tell you right now.

Look at the teeth and the needle-pointed claws, would you! I'm glad I didn't have to face this critter.”

”And Bandy-legs,” Steve could not help saying, ”this sweet little cat didn't have its hind leg caught in a trap, either. It was free as air, and if my lucky shot hadn't gone just where it did, I guess I'd be in rags right now.”

”Well,” said the other, in no wise hurt by what Steve said, I never claimed to be a hunter like you, Steve and you know it. I guess shooting a trapped bear is about my limit. But I know _you_ wouldn't run away from the biggest old pig-stealer that ever came down the pike.”

”Thank you, Bandy-legs,” said Steve, ”and really and truly I don't believe I would, not if I had my trusty gun along.”

The afternoon was wearing away, and all of them believed that they had been through quite enough excitement for one day. Besides, they had covered a good many miles since morning and felt rather like resting.

Trapper Jim was getting some of the bear meat in readiness for cooking.

He knew it would be anything but tender, but long experience had taught him how to pound it with a little contrivance he had, thus opening the tissues and allowing the juices to escape. In this way a tough beefsteak can be made more palatable if one cares to go to the trouble. Sometimes he parboiled meat and then fried it.

As the sun went down Max stood outside the cabin, looking around at the picture. The air was fresh and invigorating and he drew in a big breath, as, turning to Owen who had just come out to join him, he remarked:

”Talk to me about the good times we've had before; I tell you nothing ever happened to this lucky bunch that was halfway equal to this!”