Part 18 (1/2)
The proble on the air The boys hurried back to the ed from the bushes His eyes opened ith amazement when he saw the dead bucks Then he spied the body of the doe, and siasped with open mouth
”You--you fellows,” he staht knock over one between you--but three! Great Jehosaphat!”
”Oh! we've got it down fine,” laughed Brick ”But how did you ood-sized doe,” replied Jerry ”It was a long-range shot, and I'et very close to the herd on account of the wind”
As he spoke a rasping cry floated toward the mouth of the valley The startled boys looked out on the swa in the scrub,” exclaiuns, fellows”
”I hope it's not a catamount,” said Brick
”As likely as not it is,” replied Jerry
The question was not long in doubt With a whining cry, a good-sized wildcat sprang from a clump of alder bushes just beyond the dead deer
It pounced upon the body, and began to rend it with teeth and claws
”Did you ever see such iive the little brute a settler”
The boys e of the swahborhood The creature was evidently half fa, it was deterlared at the intruders with a ferocious snarl
”Watch sharp, now,” cautioned Jerry ”We'll go pretty close, so as not to run the chance ofI'll kill him with a rifle If we all fire, the skin will be ruined, and it's orth saving”
This was agreed to The wildcat remained on the body of the deer until the boys ithin four yards Then it bounded forward six feet, and crouched for another spring
Jerry took hasty aier The creature was already in air when the shot rang out, and, h its head It landed on the snoith a convulsive gasp, and rolled over lifeless at Brick's feet
”Pretty close quarters,” reh Noe've got a skin that is worth keeping”
”This is the sort of hunting I used to read about in books,” exclaimed Brick ”Four deer and a catamount Just think of it I'”
The others laughed, and Haot to stir ourselves now,” said Jerry ”In about an hour and a half it will be dark The -place, and after we've brought down the sleds andfire Then we'll skin the wildcat, and get the deer swung up to the branches of so ”
”Except cut sory tone
”Don't be worried,” Jerry replied ”I'll give you a supper fit for a king to-night”
”But what in the world e ever do with all this venison?” asked Hamp ”It will make an awful pile, even when it is cut up”
”It certainly will,” ad to do that I can see We'll take e can to Chesuet a camp picked out, we'll come back for the rest with two empty sleds”
This sounded practical, and the matter was dropped The boys hurried up the valley, and presently came to the deer which Jerry had shot It was a fine, plump animal, and lay in the very center of the salt lick Two minutes later they reached the spot where the successful hunt had been planned
As they e and one