Part 11 (1/2)
But it was the hand of the giant that grasped the gun, and turned it aside
”Don't ye try it, Si,” roared Old Cale ”We done enuff as 'tis, atakin'
ther game away from 'em, without layin' a hand on ther hides But ye'd better skip out, as Si sez, younkers An' say, wile I think o' it, jest tell thet sneak, Jioin' ter keep my word 'bout them ears o' his'n I'll larn him what it means ter defy Old Cale Martin”
For the life of hi soe, just as you say,” he went on; ”but let er mistake in your life when you call Jim Hasty a sneak or a coward Would a coward dare come up here, when he kne you hated hiot a e for you; somebody's sent him up here!
And he meant to hunt you up, and see you face to face A coward! Well, I guess not”
And without giving the giant a chance to say another word Thad wheeled, striding aith the nervous Step Hen at his side, casting h not quite convinced that the warlike Si ht not think it best after all to shoot after them
But ten minutes later, and the two boys ell away froedy
”How do you feel about it now?” asked Thad
”What do youed buck, and knocked over all by ive it to that lon liar of a Si Kedge, though, for saying that was his bullet, when anybody could see that it came from my rifle? Why, he only pinked the deer in the neck, because I could see the mark Oh! the thieves, the miserable skunks, to cheat et over this, Thad!”
”Oh! yes you will, Step Hen,” rely, for he felt that the bare-faced robbery had been a terrible shock to his companion ”But what I meant when I asked that, was, do you want to head toward ca for to-day?”
”Now, I know you're saying that, Thad, just to let e that I was beginning to get tired, up to the time I killed that deer; but it's all passed away now The exciteot ?” asked the scoutrit under the circuht out by the ill turn fortune had given him
”Sure I do,” instantly replied the other ”I'ed buck; and now that I know the ropes, it's easy as falling off a log Looks like this snow ain't agoing to aot pretty nearly half a day ahead of us yet So let's keep on for a while When I get a little tired, we'll stop to eat our snack of grub, when I can rest up, and be ready for another hour or two But I'ht another deer this blessed day; do you, Thad?”
”We'll hope to, at any rate,” replied the other, as he started off again; ”and it's that constant expectation of starting up ga, Step Hen; and if we fail to bring in our share of venison it won't be because we lay down too easy Now for quiet again, remember, and keep a constant lookout ahead”
CHAPTER XI
OVERTAKEN BY DARKNESS
Ittime after the noon hour when Step Hen did as he had proht eat their lunch, and take a rest
As the cold was still with theh the snow had thus far a a small fire, at which they could sit, and be comfortable, while they devoured the food provided for the midday meal
”You make a fire as quick as the next one, Step Hen,” ad what he said, and at the sa spirits of his hunting a a blaze in half a dozen styles, the way Giraffe's got it down pat,” observed the other, s at it the easiest ith matches, and dead pine cones, why I'm there every time And say, it does feel some handy, don't it, Thad?”
They sat there, and chatted for quite a long ti that resting spell Step Hen picked upthe ways of the woods Thad did not know all that Allan Hollister had learned through practical experience; but he hadto that other troop of scouts; and never forgot what he learned
”Let's be agoin' on again,” re up his little rifle with a new eagerness
”Feel like another spell of it, eh?” asked the patrol leader, following suit
”That's what I do,” replied the other ”Nothing like a rest, and a bite, when you're pretty near played out I'ain, and ready for several hours' hard traain have such a chance to get a six-pronged buck as that And to think how it should a been just what the boys were telling me to knock over I wonder now----”
”What?” asked Thad, as his chum came to a sudden stop