Part 13 (1/2)
”You can now try your luck at airowth Soon a flock of birds arose directly before the down seven of the quarry Then the scout fired, and five other birds dropped
”Pretty good for a starter!” cried old Benson, as they stalked around picking up the gaet practice has made you both pretty steady Just a round dozen, all told That's a-plenty for dinner, I reckon”
Captain Moore was also pleased when told of what his brother and his cousin had accoreat hunters in ti is to keep your nerve when big game confronts you You know you have the best of a bird or squirrel, or anything like that
But when it comes to a buffalo, or a bear----”
”I know all about bears,” interrupted Joe, and at this there was a general laugh ”If I ever meet another bear I want to be well prepared for hiht,” went on the young captain ”But when one is cornered he is apt to get very ugly; eh, Benson?”
”Right you are, captain I was once cornered by a buffalo, and had all I could do to save myself”
The old scout calculated that they would strike soame that afternoon, and he was not hted several deer far up the hillside
”Fine, pluet a couple of them we can be well satisfied”
It was decided that they should et to leeward of the herd
”If we don't do that, the deer will scent us and be off in no time,”
explained Captain Moore
Their horses were tethered in the brush, near some trees, and the party of four started out on foot The as rough, but the boys did not ht was upon the deer, and each resolved to bring down one of the gaht task to reach a spot from which to shoot They had to cross several depressions on the hillside, and here the undergroas so heavy that progress at times seemed impossible Once Darry went into a hole up to his waist, and came out with several rents in his coat, where the thorns had clung to him
”Oh!” he muttered ”Oh!”
”Are you hurt?” questioned Joe quickly
”Not ood deal scratched up,” answered Darry, with a wry face
At last they gained a point well to leeward of the quarry, and Benson brought the party to a halt
”We'll creep in as far as we can,” he said ”But keep your guns ready for use, and as soon as one fires the others had best fire too, for the deer won't wait after one shot Which will you take, captain?”
”I'll take the one near the big rock,” answered Captain Moore ”Joe, you had better take the one on the knoll”
”I will”
”I'll take the one rubbing his side with his prong,” put in Darry
”And I'll take the one coh the brush,” finished old Benson
”Now then, forward Make no noise, and be sure your gun doesn't go off and hit somebody else instead of the deer”
Rifles in hand, they crept through the underbrush and doard the glade in which the deer were feeding