CHAPTER XIV
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.