“Feel like another spell of it, eh?” asked the patrol leader, following suit.
“That’s what I do,” replied the other. “Nothing like a rest, and a bite, when you’re pretty near played out. I’m feeling fine and dandy again, and ready for several hours’ hard tramping. But something just seems to tell me we’ll never again have such a chance to get a six-pronged buck as that. And to think how it should a been just what the boys were telling me to knock over. I wonder now—”
“What?” asked Thad, as his chum came to a sudden stop.
“P’raps you’ll say I’m silly if I tell you; but anyhow, here goes, Thad. It just struck me all of a sudden that we might go back to where we lost our deer, and do a little trailing on our own account. Them three fellers wouldn’t bother trying to hide their tracks, and chances are they’ve gone into camp to eat some of that venison by this time, if not sooner.”
Thad smiled; he could not help it, upon hearing Step Hen talk in this strain; for only too plainly did he remember how white the other had been, and how even his voice trembled when he spoke, while facing those three poachers.
“And after we’ve managed to track them to their camp, what then?” he demanded.
Step Hen looked wonderfully brave as he instantly replied:
“Why, we might catch ’em off their guard, and hold ’em up. That deer belongs to me, and I’d just like to have it the worst kind, especially that head, with the six-pronged antlers on it. But if you thought that proposition a little too risky, Thad, why we might conclude to wait around, keeping under cover, till it got plumb dark. Then we could carry off as much of the buck as we could tote, including the head; and them fellers not be any the wiser for it, till it was too late to follow us! How’s that?”
Thad nearly had his breath taken away by the boldness of Step Hen’s astonishing proposals. He looked at the other, and a smile spread completely across his face. Then he puckered up his lips, and gave a little whistle, that somehow caused Step Hen to turn a bit red in the face.
“Whew!” ejaculated Thad, “I never before suspected what a fire-eater you could be, Step Hen. Why, nothing fazes you, nowadays. I believe you’d be ready to snap your fingers in the faces of a dozen of the worst rascals that ever hid up here in the piney woods of Maine. But I’m afraid that’s too risky a job for me to back up, as the leader of the patrol. I feel the burden of responsibility too much to allow it. What could I say to your father and mother if there was no Step Hen to answer to the roll-call, when we mustered out after this Maine hunt? So, on the whole, Step Hen, much as I hate to disappoint you, I’m afraid I’ll have to put a damper on your scheme.”