Part 32 (2/2)
They had reached a point directly between Firefly Lake and Lake Cameron when they came to a little patch of woods surrounding a pond less than a hundred feet across. As they entered the woods they heard a slight noise and saw a small deer running swiftly across the snow on the pond. At once Whopper let drive and so did Snap, and the deer went down, kicked for a moment, and then lay still.
The game had been struck in the rump and in the neck, but there was another wound in one ear and still a fourth near the tail.
”Must have been hit before she came this way,” said Giant.
As the young hunters surrounded the game they did not notice the approach of three men on snow-shoes, all carrying guns and gamebags.
The three men were Andrew Felps and two of his particular friends, Giles Faswig and Vance Lemon.
”Hi! what are you doing here?” demanded Andrew Felps, striding up angrily. ”Didn't I warn you off of my land last summer? You have no right to hunt here.”
”They have the deer!” put in Giles Faswig. ”Hang the luck anyhow.”
”Never mind, the deer belongs to us--it was shot on my land,” muttered Andrew Felps.
”Certainly it is your deer if it was shot on your land,” put in Vance Lemon.
The four boy hunters listened to the talk in considerable dismay.
Evidently the three men intended to appropriate the game.
”Is this your land?” asked Whopper.
”We didn't see any fence,” put in Snap.
”The fences are there anyway--I had them put up last fall, after the fire. You have no right to even cross my land, much less do any shooting.”
”Felps, ain't you going to claim the deer?” asked Giles Faswig.
”Certainly I am. But I want these young rascals to understand that they can't come on my land,” answered the lumber dealer.
”Mr. Felps, we are not young rascals,” said Shep, with flas.h.i.+ng eyes.
”We shot the deer in good faith and if you take it from us I shall consider it stealing.”
”Listen to that!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Vance Lemon. ”And after we wounded the deer first, too!”
”I won't talk to you,” cried Andrew Felps, savagely. ”Leave that deer alone, and get off of my land as quick as you can--and stay off!”
His manner was so savage and threatening that the young hunters felt compelled to retreat. Yet they were very angry.
”Mr. Felps, I think you'll be sorry for this some day,” said Snap.
”When I get back to Fairview I shall tell everybody just how meanly you have acted.”
”Hi! don't you threaten me!” roared the irate lumber dealer. ”I know my business. You clear out--and be quick about it.”
”I suppose you and your friends want our deer because you're not able to shoot one yourselves,” called out Whopper, and with this parting shot the young hunters withdrew. All of the men shook their fists at the boys.
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