Part 12 (2/2)

DEER HUNTING

With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin Old Benson re, and did what he could to please the boys

He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on

”You'll do first-rate in a little while,” he said ”And as La afore you're both out-and-out soldiers”

”I don't know as I care to be a regular soldier,” answered Darry ”I wouldn't mind it for a while, but to enlist for five years--why, that's another thing”

”Lambert has enlisted four times When his time is out he'll be in service twenty years”

”And yet he is only a private,” put in Joe

”He is content, and doesn't want to go any higher He likes the life, and he told o that he wouldn't knohat to do with himself if he was out of Uncle Sam's employ”

One day after another passed, until the boys had been at the fort a little over a week They no the drills and the ”time-card” as well as anybody, and often practiced on the apparatus in the gyet used to it,” said Joe ”The ood deal of company for each other”

”It's odd to see so many men and so feomen,” returned Darry

”Some of the men don't want any women around, so I've been told They are like some of the old-time miners who used to move out of camp as soon as a dress-skirt showed itself”

One day Captain Moore and old Benson got per All of the party werewith part of the necessary ca outfit

”If it's possible to do so, I'll show you soh I'll allow big gahty scarce, even in these parts”

”Have the hunters shot down everything?” asked Joe

”A good bit, lad You see, many used to co I've known a party of six men to kill twenty or thirty buffalo and then leave the carcasses to the wolves That was a shame”

”So it was!” cried Darry ”One or two buffalo would have been enough”

”Some hunters never knohen to stop,” put in Captain Moore ”They shoot as long as anything shows itself If it wasn't for that these hills would be filled with buffalo, deer, bears, and all other kind of ga was clear and cool, and everybody in the party was in the best of spirits The course was down into a broad valley, in the middle of which flowed the Rocky Pass River, and then up a series of hills leading to To Mountain--a favorite resort in this territory for sports of those desperadoes?” asked Joe of his brother, as they rode along side by side

”It's not likely,” answered the young captain ”As soon as they learn that the soldiers are after them they'll take to their heels in double-quick order They haven't any taste for ulars”

”It's queer that this Matt Gilroy should go in for this sort of life--if he is as well educated as you say”

”So better, Joe--they wouldn't earn their living honestly if they could It's queer that this is so, but it's a fact Those hdown Generally they die with their boots on, as the saying goes”

By noon the party had covered fifteen miles and ell into the hills They ca which flowed from a split in the rocks Near at hand was souessed that it would not be difficult to beat up some birds