Part 12 (1/2)

Mr Mabie had -knife It was a short, though serviceable weapon, and had doubtless done splendid execution in days gone by Bluff used to take it out when he thought no one was looking, run his finger over the keen edge, gaze sadly at the diet the rand specimen of the cutler's skill out of his mind, and his soul was filled with bitterness because of its strange absence

”Look out for wolves!” called Reddy, but Bluff only waved his hand in derision as he walked away down the valley

Of course, he knew that the stockry rand hunts in order to keep their number down; but it hardly seemed reasonable to expect trouble from such a source in the summer season

Elk and ame laws, so that they were at liberty to shoot what they pleased As a rule, however, Mr Mabie did not believe in hunting such animals save in the fall of the year

Bluff had asked nu ca about the lay of the land in the vicinity He had started out with all due regard to the way the as blowing, so as not to alar up the breeze

Clih dense patches of tia a skilful sportsler of the party when it cae of woodcraft; but since then he had studied up on various subjects, and was now anxious to air his knowledge

When he caught sight of a large anilade, he knew itdifferent lines entirely

It ht have amused Jerry to see the way in which Bluff crawled closer and closer to the expected quarry No doubt he didto the usual rules of the game

However, as Bluff would say, the proof of the pudding lies in the eating of it, and he certainly didelk

Thinking he was now near enough, and that the ani to act uneasily, Bluff stretched hi aier

The elk certainly dropped, at which the young hunter gave a bellow of delight That here hethat his bullet had done for the ga the sa the fact that he could not initiate his precious new blade

To his astonishment, the wounded elk scra away it shook its antlers in an angry fashi+on and started straight toward the young hunter!

CHAPTER XI

THE ELK AND THE YOUNG HUNTER

”Hey! Hold on, there! That isn't in the game!”

The elk did not see straight on Like many another, more experienced in the ways of the woods than hiun He was so amazed to see the anins of life, that he stood there for a few precious seconds, gaping as if in a dreaained the shelter of a tree

”Oh! What a socker!” he exclaiainst the trunk of the tree

Before he could say more, or try to fored to spin around that same trunk with all the rapidity he could command, for the elk was apparently deter antlers seemed pointed with spikes, in the eyes of the startled lad as he strained every effort to keep beyond their reach

Bluff was really alarmed by this time He knew that any unfortunate slip on his part would precipitate a tragedy

”I laughed at Jerry and the wild dogs that chased hiasped, as he kept up the weary circle, hugging the trunk as closely as possible

This, however, caused him to reed to gain the victory through his own gun, and Bluff suddenly caripped in his hand, and which also contained fiveyou! I'll fix you yet!” he h he would better have husbanded his breath to better purpose