Part 17 (2/2)

”Yes,” said Frank

”Ditto!” froo!”

There followed a crash of firear the little herd of feeding elk One was down, another went li off, to fall as Frank sent in a second hasty shot; while the balance fairly flew off in their fright

”Hurrah!” shouted the hunters, as they saw that they hadanirio down on his knees,” he assertedAn elk often runs off with several bad wounds

I only hope he don't die in the woods so the tracks of those that had escaped

”Will it pay us to follow them up and see if Bluff's buck fell?” asked Frank, ame

”Nope The buck runs like he wasn't even hurt much No ketchin' up with them fellers after that riot call We'd best pay attention to e've got, and return to caed his shoulders, saying:

”But I hit him, anyhow, I'll tell you that, fellows”

Frank found that all Reddythe two elk up, after they had cut some choice portions for immediate use The other cowboys would come with the horses, on their way down the river, on the ot fooled out of elk steaks once and don't ain, I tell you,” said Jerry, as he shouldered his portion of the load

So they returned to ca in ”Back already, and only out two hours? Got soood Such appetites as you boys are developing threaten to eat us out of house and hoame Who cut up the elk?”

”The boys all took a hand They wanted to learn,” sht they had,” nodded the stockman, who could easily see that it was not the work of an experienced hand

Bluff failed to catch the twinkle of humor in the other's eyes

”Yes, and I could haveI foolishly went and left at home,” he reed looks, and shrugged their shoulders, but said nothing; for in a case of that kind words are useless

They were all very enthusiastic that night over the feast The cook had dutifully pounded the steaks before placing the sah it was not his fault

The er serving as the best-known sauce, who could complain?

Bluff kept on the lookout for thearound he had more discretion than to show hi the ca breakfast, and everything was packed away in as s on the backs of the pack horses, which were brought in from the pen, or corral, where they had been kept all this while, in charge of a guard

The three bullboats awaited the adventurous ones These were of the typefashi+oned of tough hides of bulls, and iuns, which were strapped to their backs, the voyagers carried little or nothing In case of an upset they did not stand to worry over anything except saving their own lives