Part 48 (1/2)

”He won't if he knows how to follow the game up,” answered Sid Todd.

”That deer was badly wounded, and game can't run far over these rough rocks.”

”Wonder who it was?” mused Phil.

”Can't tell that--so many folks come out here to hunt,” answered the cowboy. ”It might be some ranchman or cowboy, and it might be some city sportsman trying his luck.”

”We may fall in with him later,” said Dave. ”If we do, I hope he proves a nice sort.”

”Folks out here usually hunt on their own hook,” said Todd.

The cowboy had in mind to pa.s.s to the north of the mountain top, and this they did, soon leaving behind the locality where the two deer had been seen. They saw nothing of the party who had fired the two shots.

”I hope he doesn't take us for game and shoot this way,” said Roger, who had heard of just such accidents more than once.

”Well, we don't want to mistake him for game either,” said Dave.

”Whenever you shoot, be sure of what you are shooting at.”

”Right you are,” cried Sid Todd. ”If hunters weren't too hasty there wouldn't be any accidents.”

A little over half a mile was covered, and by that time the sun was sinking over the hills to the westward. A suitable spot was selected and the tent was pitched, and they prepared a supper of fish and venison, meat and crackers, was.h.i.+ng it down with some chocolate that Roger made.

Early in the morning Sid Todd left the camp, to be gone the best part of two hours. He came back showing his excitement.

”A chance for elk, boys!” he cried. ”But you must hurry and do a good bit of tramping.”

”Can you walk, Phil?” asked Dave, anxiously.

”Just as well as ever,” was the answer, and Phil took a turn around the camp to prove his words.

No time was lost in preparing for the hunt, and in less than ten minutes all were off, having tethered the horses in a spot they deemed safe.

Their provisions they tied in skins and hung in the trees, so they might be safe from wild marauders.

It was a hard climb, over the rocks and among the bushes, and once the boys had to call a halt, to catch their breath. But Todd was afraid the elk would take themselves off, so he urged them on as much as possible.

”There were two elk, big fellows, too,” he said. ”If we don't bag at least one of 'em, we may not get another such chance all the time we are out here.”

Presently they came to something of a hollow on the mountain side. Here was a fine spring of sparkling water, and all stopped long enough to get a refres.h.i.+ng drink. It was hot in the sun and all were beginning to perspire freely.

”If we get those elk we'll earn 'em,” was Roger's comment.

”Right you are!” panted Phil.

”How much further have we to go?” questioned Dave.

”Not over a quarter of a mile,” answered the cowboy. He was still in the lead and he had his eyes on the alert for the first glimpse at the big game.

The boys were pretty well winded when Sid Todd called a halt. They had reached a clump of cedar trees and beyond was an open spot among a number of loose rocks, with patches of rich mountain gra.s.s between.

”Gone!” said the cowboy, with a deep sigh.