Part 4 (1/2)

”We ought to find a good place behind that,” said Hamp

”No doubt we shall,” Jerry added

”I hope so,” declared Brick ”I'ry as a bear I haven't had such an appetite since the day----”

Brick never finished He was interrupted by a crashi+ng noise a short distance back in the forest The sound came rapidly nearer and louder

The boys stopped, and looked at one another in alarm

”Itit

The wind is blowing this way We et a shot”

Crash!+ out fro antlers He bounded down the sloping bank, and over the ice He was panting and exhausted

Close behind leaped a gaunt, ravenous wolf, flecked with foa straight at the frightened and amazed boys

Brick had a sudden attack of buckfever He stood stupidly still The others hurriedly grabbed their rifles from the sled Jerry ran a few steps in front of his companions

Then, for the first time, the buck saw the lads He snorted with terror, and tried vainly to check himself on the slippery ice

Jerry knelt and took aier at a range of fifteen feet

The ball failed to reach aa painful wound The huge anied to wrath With lowered antlers, he dashed full tilt at Jerry

The lad started to run, but his rifle caught between his legs He sprawled headlong on the ice He was right in front of the enraged buck In a few seconds the cruel hoofs and sharp horns would le his body

At the saer and passion, veered with a shrill yelp He leaped savagely upon Hamp's breast, and bore him to the ice

CHAPTER IV

THE FIRST DEER

Hamp escaped death by a display of nerve and coolness that was re

The wolf, happily, missed the lad's throat Instead, the white teeth snapped shut on the thick, furry collar of his overcoat For an instant they stuck there, and this gave Harabbed the wolf's shaggy breast, and pushed against it; with the other he reached for the long hunting-knife that dangled froed it fiercely into the wolf's body

Twice, thrice the keen blade cut its way deeply through flesh and skin

A vital part was reached at last With a gurgling cry the brute relaxed its hold, and slipped to one side

Ha to his feet His clothes were thickly smeared with blood, but a scratch or tas his sole injury

Meanwhile, Jerry had shown equal coolness in an equally trying ordeal