Part 9 (1/2)

Then they saw that he had a game bag slung over his shoulder in true sportsman style.

”I did not suppose you would go out to shoot the poor, innocent little rabbits, Mr. Sweet,” said Laura, with sober face but dancing eyes. ”They have never done you any harm.”

”I bet a real bad rabbit would make Purt run,” muttered Bobby.

”Oh, Miss Belding!” said the school dandy. ”You know I'm awf'ly keen on sport--awf'ly keen, doncher know. I just _have_ to get a day now and then in the woods, when game is in season.”

”He's as keen on it as the two Irishmen were, who went hunting for the first time,” broke in Bobby. ”When they sighted a bird sitting on a bush Meehan took very careful aim and prepared to fire. Said his friend, grabbing him by the arm:

”'Don't fire, Meehan! Shure an' yez haven't loaded yer gun.'

”'That's as it may be, me lad,' retorted Meehan, 'but fire I must. The bur-rd won't wait!'”

Prettyman Sweet was used to being laughed at, yet he flushed at the gibe.

”Never mind,” he said. ”I bring home the game, just the same.”

”You 'bring home the bacon,' in other words,” said Chet, approaching him.

”Let's see the bunnies?”

Nothing loath, the overdressed boy opened the bag and displayed his plunder. He brought two big hares out of the bag by their ears and held them up with pride.

”Bet they were trapped,” said Bobby in an undertone.

”They were not trapped!” cried Purt Sweet sharply. ”See! That is where one was shot! And there is the other--see?”

”Jinks!” said Lance. ”Both through the head. _You_ never did it, Purt?”

”I did so!” cried the huntsman angrily. ”I shot them both.”

Chet was looking them over closely. He shook his head.

”They have been shot all right,” he said. ”And you shot them over there on Cavern Island?”

”I can prove it,” said Purt haughtily.

”That's all right,” said Chet thoughtfully. ”You may have shot them--and on Cavern Island. But whose rabbits were they before you bought them?”

”What? I--Oh!”

Bobby and Jess began to giggle. Chet grinned as he added:

”Those are Belgian hares, not rabbits, Pretty. Somebody has put something over on you. Belgian hares don't run wild in the woods of Cavern Island-- that is sure.”

”Bet he shot them hanging up on a fence,” snapped Short and Long, who thus far had said never a word to Prettyman Sweet.

”And I know the market to-day is full of Belgian hares,” chuckled Chet.