Part 12 (1/2)

”Oh, I'm all right,” protested the boy, who did not want to put others to trouble on his account.

”You're all right, except for what happened to you,” remarked Jed, with just the suspicion of a smile. He had been quite alarmed at his brother's fall, but he was now relieved, when he found there was nothing serious the matter with him.

”Well, we'll stop here a few hours,” decided Gabe. ”Jed, if you'll make a fire, I'll get ready to fry some bacon.”

”Say, I've eaten so much bacon lately,” remarked Jed, ”that I'm ashamed to look a pig in the face.”

”Some fresh meat wouldn't go bad,” added Fred Hurd.

”Well, maybe we can get some soon,” said his partner. ”We'll soon be in the elk country, and I don't see why we can't knock over a good fat buck.”

”Do you think we'll have a chance to shoot such big game?” asked Jed, who had never hunted anything larger than foxes or rabbits.

”I'm pretty sure we will. I have hunted around here.”

This was good news to the two boys. Mr. Harrison was not so much interested, as he was anxious to push on to the mines, but he well knew the camp larder could stand a little addition in the way of fresh meat, and he agreed to go hunting with the others.

It was two days after this, when, having traveled several miles further along the northwest trail, that Mr. Curtin announced that they might now get their rifles ready for elk, or any other big game that crossed their path.

The two boys had brought with them serviceable rifles, and they were fair shots. As they knew nothing of trailing after big game they had to be guided by the advice of the two mining partners.

It was decided, when they reached a good spot, they would establish a camp, and remain there a day or so, meanwhile hunting in the surrounding country. Gabe announced that he would stay in camp, and that afternoon, having found a suitable spot, a lean-to was erected, a fire built, and preparations made to stay there that night.

”In the morning we'll try our luck hunting,” said Mr. Hurd.

Every one was up early, before the sun in fact, and all ate heartily of the breakfast which Gabe had prepared. The two boys, and the miners, leaving Mr. Harrison in camp, then set off in search of an elk or a deer, of which there were signs, according to Mr. Curtin.

CHAPTER X

IN THE RAPIDS

They left their horses in camp, in charge of Gabe, since the hunting ground was in a wild region, stretches of woodland being interspersed with rocky tracks, over which a steed would find it dangerous to travel.

”Now, don't make any more noise than you can help,” cautioned Mr.

Curtin. ”No use telling the elk we're coming. Have you your guns loaded?”

”Yes,” replied Jed. ”I'm afraid mine's a pretty light rifle, though, to stop an elk.”

”A small bullet, in the right place, is just as good as a large one,”

replied Mr. Hurd. ”Now, don't talk any more than is necessary.”

They proceeded with caution for two or three miles, but their most careful observation failed to disclose any elk, or smaller deer. The two boys were beginning to feel a bit disappointed, as they had set their hearts on at least getting a shot at big game.

Another mile brought no results, though Mr. Hurd said the signs of elk were growing better.

”There's been a herd here in the last few days,” he said. ”A big one, too, by the looks of things.”