AFTER DEER WITH GUN AND CAMERA
"I hope we strike a good camping spot by night," said Snap, "for,
unless I miss my guess, it will rain before morning."
"Oh, don't say rain!" cried Giant. "We can do without rain."
"It may not be a lasting storm, but some rain will come, mark my
words."
"I think I see the trail up the mountains," said Whopper, who was
looking through a pair of fieldglasses. "Anyway, it's path of
some kind."
The others gave a look, and all decided that Whopper was right.
Resuming their loads after the noonday repast, they started down
the hill in the direction of Windy Mountains. They had some big
bare rocks to cover, and slipped and slid over these as best they
could, and then plunged straight into a thick woods.
"Ought to be hunting here, if anywhere," observed Shep. "Looks as
if it was new ground for sportsmen."
"Beware of sink holes!" cried Whopper as he reached a rather soft
spot. "We don't want to go down as we did the other time we were
out."
"Look!" exclaimed the doctor's son as they came to a small opening
in the woods. "Deer, or I'll eat my cap!"
He pointed to some bushes and tender saplings growing near. The
bushes had been nibbled, and so had the bark on the saplings, showing
that some animal had been there.
"I believe you are right, and if so we may get a shot," answered
Giant.
"Yes, a shot---but not until after we have used our cameras,"
answered the doctor's son. "Don't forget the first object of this
outing---to get some good pictures."
"Right you are, Shep; I forgot. But we must shoot the deer---after
we have our photos."
"Better sight the game first," came from Snap.
With the thoughts of bringing down one or more deer filling their
minds, the boy hunters did not care so much about making a camp for
the night. If necessary, they knew they could erect their tent
anywhere, and take it down again in the morning. Even the prospect
of rain did not daunt them.
"Let us hurry," said Shep. "If we reach the deer we want to do it
while it is light enough to take some pictures."
With their cameras and guns ready for use, they went on, Tommy
cautioning the dog to be silent. Wags seemed to understand and
even acted as if he might lead them to the game. But he was not
trained, so they took no chances on this.
Deep in a hollow they came upon the unmistakable hoofmarks of three
deer. They followed these through the woods and to a small clearing.
At a clump of bushes the doctor's son called a halt.
"I think they may be near," he whispered. "If so, we want to go slow
or they'll get away from us."
"Perhaps you'd better go ahead and take a look," said Snap, sure that
that was what his chum desired.
The loads were slipped to the ground, and they went on, Shep well
in advance. Suddenly the doctor's son put up one hand. It was a
signal that the game was in sight. Snap whispered to Tommy to stop
and hold the collie.
"There they are, by yonder rocks," said the doctor's son, pointing
with his finger. "We can all get good pictures, I think. Let us
spread out a little."
They did as he advised. The three deer were close together, grazing.
The boys came up almost breathlessly, and each snapped his camera
for two films or plates. At the first clicking one of the deer,
evidently the leader, raised his head. Scenting the air, he made
a beautiful sight. For just an instant he stood still, then gave
a snort and started to run.
"Shoot 'em!" cried Shep, and swinging his camera out of the way he
caught up his firearm. But Snap was ahead of him, and bang! went
his piece. Bang! bang! bang! went the others in rapid succession.
Then Wags began to bark furiously, and Tommy let him go. After the
game he leaped at his topmost speed.
The first volley from the shotguns laid one of the deer low, while
a second was slightly wounded, and began to limp away. The other
deer kept on running and soon disappeared into the dense forest.
"Come on---let us get that wounded deer!" cried Whopper.
"There goes Wags after him!" shouted Tommy.
"That dog will get killed if he doesn't look out," answered Snap,
who knew only too well how a cornered deer can fight. But Wags was
too wise to get within reach of the deer's hoofs and head. He raced
around and around the game, simply worrying it.
Coming closer, the boy hunters watched their chances and Snap took
another shot, followed by Giant. These were fatal, and limping a
few feet farther, the deer staggered and fell, and soon breathed
its last.
"Call off the dog," ordered the doctor's son. But this was
unnecessary, for after a single sniff Wags retired and did not
attempt to molest the game.
"Talk about luck!" cried Whopper, swinging his cap in the air. "I
call this prime! Two deer, first crack out of the box!"
"Yes; and see the fine pictures we got," added Snap. "That is, I
trust they are all right," he added hastily.
"Did you change your films and plates?" asked the doctor's son.
All had, and they guarded jealously those containing the precious
exposures.
"Now we must take some more photos," said Shep. "We'll get Tommy
to snap us holding up the deer on poles. We can label the two
pictures 'Before Shooting' and 'After.'
"That's the stuff!" cried Giant slangily.
Two poles were soon cut and a deer slung on each, and while Shep
and Snap raised up one, Whopper and Giant raised the other. Tommy
had been instructed as to what to do, and he took a snapshot or a
time picture with each camera, so that they would have plenty of
films and plates, in case one or more proved failures.
"It's a bit extravagant," said the doctor's son. "But we'll not
have such game pictures every day. When we simply take scenery
one plate or one film will do."
"When we make camp we can hang the deer in front of the tent and
get another view," said Snap.
"Yes; and get a view of our big string of fish, before we eat 'em
all up," added Giant.
"Well, one thing is certain," said Whopper, after they had surveyed
their prizes thoroughly; "we can't get to the Windy Mountains by
to-night with such a load."
"In that case we might as well make two bites of the trip and camp
here for to-night," said Shep. "I reckon this spot is as good as any.
There's a brook with good water, for the deer have been using it."
"There's another reason for going into camp," came from Snap. "Just
look at the sky over to the west."
All gazed in the direction mentioned and saw heavy black clouds
just showing over the treetops. The clouds advanced rapidly, soon
covering the sun. Then came the rumble of distant thunder.
"A thunderstorm!" exclaimed Tommy. "I don't like them at all.
What shall we do?"
"Put up the tent as quickly as we can," ordered the doctor's son.
"That storm may last all night, and we want to keep dry if we can."
In great haste they selected some saplings and cut them down for
tent poles and pegs. Then they got out the canvas and put it up,
driving in the pegs that held it as deeply as possible. The tent
was erected on some sloping ground, and behind it they cut a V in
the soil, so that the water might run off on either side instead
of across the flooring of the shelter. Then they cut some
brushwood for couches and hauled it inside.
"Here comes the storm!" cried Snap presently, and scarcely had he
spoken when there came a rush of wind, followed by some big drops
of rain. Then came more wind, swaying the tent violently and
causing the sides to bulge out like a balloon. A torrent of
water followed, and all of the boys were glad enough to crawl under
the tent and tie the opening in front tight shut behind them.