A DANGEROUS DEER HUNT
"Deer!" came from the others.
"Let me get a shot at 'em," added Whopper, excitedly. "That's what
I came for---to bring down a dozen deer or so!"
"Make it two or three dozen, Whopper," answered Snap. "What would
you do with a dozen in this warm weather?"
"Send 'em down to the poor folks of the town."
The announcement that deer were in that vicinity thrilled all the
young hunters, and they at once resolved to go ashore and see if
they could not bring down the game.
"Let us go back a bit," suggested Shep. "We don't want this breeze
to carry our scent to them. If it does, they'll be off like a shot."
The others knew that the doctor's son spoke the truth, and so
the _Snapper_ was turned around, and they went ashore at a point
where the trees were thick. Snap carried the rifle and the others
had their shotguns, and all looked to the firearms to be sure they
were in condition for immediate use. With great care the four boys
started to stalk the deer, as it is called. Snap led the way, and
never was an Indian hunter more careful of his steps. He knew that
the deer's ears were wide open for any unusual sound and even the
cracking of a dry stick would attract their attention.
The journey over the rocks and through the timber was a laborious
one. In some spots the undergrowth was so thick that further
progress seemed, at first, impossible. Once Giant got caught so
completely that the others had to help him free himself. Hardly
a word was uttered, and then only in the faintest of whispers.
At last Snap felt they must be close to where Shep had seen the
game, and he motioned for the doctor's son to take the lead.
"You saw 'em---you ought to have first chance at 'em," he whispered.
"I want you all to fire," was the reply.
An instant later came a faint sound ahead, and looking through the
trees, the four boy hunters saw three deer walking swiftly along.
One was a beautiful doe not more than half grown.
"There is our chance!" cried Shep, excitedly. "Now then, all
together!"
Snap wanted to know what animal he was to fire at, but got no
chance to ask, for just then one of the deer raised its head and
sniffed the air suspiciously. Then the two large ones began to run
with the doe at their heels.
Crack! bang! went the rifle and shotguns, as the young hunters took
hasty aim. When the smoke cleared away they saw the doe stretched
on the ground and one of the deer limping forward painfully. The
other deer was out of sight.
"Come on---we can get that wounded one!" cried Whopper, and ran
forward with might and main.
As it happened the wounded deer was the mother of the doe, and
the wound, and the loss of its offspring, made the animal savage.
As Whopper turned towards it, the deer suddenly made for the boy.
"Look out!" yelled Snap, but before Whopper could turn aside the
deer was on him and had knocked him to the ground. Then the deer
struck out with its hoofs, landing on Whopper's shoulder and cheek.
It was a moment of extreme peril, for there could be no doubt but
that the deer meant to kill the young hunter. Shep raised his
shotgun to fire, but was afraid to do so for fear of hitting
Whopper, who was trying to rise.
"He'll be killed!" shrieked Giant, but just then Snap, using his
rifle as a club, struck the mother deer in the side. The creature
rolled over.
Bang! went Giant's shotgun, and the report of Shep's firearm followed.
The deer struggled for a moment, then gave a final kick and expired.
When the boys ran to Whopper's side they found his eyes closed. He
was breathing faintly and that was all.
"Is he---he dead?" asked Giant hoarsely, for Whopper was very dear
to the small youth.
"No, but he is badly hurt," answered Snap. "Shep, run and fill your
cap with water. I'll loosen his coat and collar."
The blood was pouring from the sharp cut in Whopper's cheek and
his coat was torn on the shoulder from the deer's hoofs. When
the water was brought, Snap bathed him tenderly, and Giant fanned
him with a cedar branch. In a few minutes he opened his eyes.
"Ta---take the de---deer away!" he murmured.
"It's all right, Whopper, the deer is dead," answered Snap.
"Oh!" Whopper breathed a sigh of relief.
"I am gl---glad of it!"
"You've had a close call of it," said Shep. "I was scared to
death." And his still pale face showed that he spoke the truth.
It was several minutes before Whopper felt like sitting up. He was
"all of a tremble," as he expressed it, and standing on his feet was
out of the question.
"You take it easy," ordered Snap. "We'll bring the boat around to
that cove below here and then carry you down."
"Do---don't leave me!" pleaded the hurt one. "That other deer may
come back!"
"No danger," said Giant. "But I'll stay with you, Whopper, while
Snap and Shep get the boat."
It was a good half hour before they had the hurt one and the game
aboard the _Snapper_. Here the doctor's son opened up the medicine
case which his father had insisted he should take along, and Whopper
was given a little stimulant, and the cuts on his cheek and his
shoulder were properly plastered up. He was made comfortable on
some cushions in the stern and told to take it easy.
"I had no idea a deer would fight so fiercely," he said, when the
others had resumed their rowing. "Those hoofs were mighty hard
and sharp, I can tell you!"
By one o'clock the young hunters reached a spot that looked good
enough for a midday camp, and going ashore they lit a fire and
prepared dinner. They made themselves a pot of rich cocoa and of
this Whopper partook freely and it seemed to strengthen him
wonderfully.
"I think we ought to stay here until to-morrow," said Snap. "It
will give Whopper a chance to recover," and so it was decided, and
the tent was gotten out and erected between two small trees which
stood handy.
That night they treated themselves to venison steak, cut from the
doe, and never was deer meat more tender or sweeter. They also
had hot bread, made by Giant in a little stone oven. In the same
oven Snap made a pan of baked beans, which were put away for
future use.
The entire afternoon of the next day was spent in rowing around
Lake Narsac. They did not linger around the north shore, for it
was wild and uninviting, and they had no desire to make the
acquaintance of the snakes said to swarm there. They spent two
hours inspecting a large cove to the westward, and finally concluded
that this spot offered the best place for a permanent camp. There
was a sandy beach, where swimming would be good, plenty of the
right kind of growth for firewood, and from the rocks some distance
back gushed a spring of cold and pure water.
"This is good enough for anybody," said Snap, after a careful
inspection. "We can use the tent if we wish, or we can erect
a cabin."
"Oh, let us put up a cabin!" cried Giant. "It is such fun building
one. Don't you remember the other shelters we built?"
"If you build a cabin you'll have to count me out," said Whopper.
"I think I'll be on the retired list for at least a few days more."
"Whopper shall be the general boss," cried Snap. He took off his
cap. "In honor of our wounded comrade, I move we call this spot
Camp Whopper. All in favor say aye!"
"Aye!" came from Shep and Giant promptly.
"Camp Whopper it is," said Snap. "Three cheers for Whopper and
his namesake!" And the cheers were given with a will.
"Whopper, you ought to make a speech," said Giant. "Tell us how
grateful you are, how you appreciate the deep honor, and all that---and
then invite us all out to cake, lemonade, ice cream soda, strawberry
shortcake, cocoanut pie, cream puffs, and a few more delicacies."
"Ice cream!" murmured Whopper. "Say, some ice cream would be great,
eh? But we can't have it out here, so what's the use of talking
about it? As for a speech, I haven't got anything to say, excepting
that I appreciate your kindness in naming the camp after yours truly.
When I am a rich man and retired, and own a castle among the Thousand
Islands, I shall surely call it---let me see---Snap-Shep-Giant Villa.
There now, how's that?"
"Fine!" was the cry.
"Hark!" added Shep, a moment later.
"What did you hear?" questioned the others.
"I thought I heard somebody calling. There it goes again. Listen!"
All listened, and from out of the forest behind them came a cry,
followed by a blood-curdling laugh. Then they heard as plain as day
these words:
"I am dead! He is dead! Who will bury me? I am dead! He is
dead! Ha! ha!"