“Why, I suppose it would be safe for all of us to go out,” returned the patrol leader. “Here, pick up something that will burn, and come along.”
They found Thad’s victim without any trouble, but the second one was not within range of the light from their torches. But poor anxious Step Hen begged so piteously to be allowed to extend the search “just a little further,” that Thad did not have the heart to say no. And a minute later, after they had gone forward twice as far as Thad had at first intended, Step Hen gave a gurgling cry.
“Looky there, Thad, what’s that thing lying over yonder? Seems to me mighty like a dead one. Yes, sir, that’s what it is, as sure as I’m Step Hen Bingham. Oh! how terrible he looks, even when stretched out there, and gone up the flue. My wolf, too. What a fine coat he’s got, and as gray as they make ’em. Say, won’t I just cut a swell when I wear that out in a sleigh with Sue Baker; and every time she rubs the sleeve she’ll say: ‘And just to think that you shot this savage old wolf all by yourself, Step Hen; oh! what a brave fellow you are!’”
It was a second dead wolf, sure enough. The little repeating rifle had, as usual, given a good account of itself, and the stricken beast had only been able to drag himself a little distance away, before giving up.
Both animals were dragged over to the fires, and then Eli set to work taking off the skins with a rapidity that told of long experience along the trapping line.
“No use aluggin’ these critters over ter the canoe, and then ter camp,” Eli had announced. “Ther two skins’ll make a purty good coat, I guess naow. An’ so ye gut a pack o’ prime venison to tote home as well, hev ye? Thet’s good. My mouth’s jes’ made up fur a steak; an’ the boys’ll feel tickled ter death when they sees yer.”
Step Hen was a little nervous at leaving the fire zone, especially since Eli and Thad insisted on putting out every spark before departing, according to the law of the State; but then he managed to carry one torch, and with that to serve them, they took up their line of march.
It was not so very far to the edge of the lake. Thad laughed, and said the joke was on him; because, when they halted he really believed they were a couple of miles away from water. If he had known the shore was so near by he would have managed to coax the tired Step Hen to trudge on just a little further, so as to camp with the water covering one side, and bringing that much security; not to speak of the chances for signaling to the home camp by means of the code which he and Allan, as Boy Scouts, understood.
But it was all right now, and Step Hen felt quite merry over the chance of being taken comfortably to the camp by means of the canoe.
Eli did the paddling, and the two weary lads just snuggled down in the boat, feeling that they had had a great day of it, all told. The presence of the venison, as well as the wolf-skins, would be positive proof as to the reliability of their astonishing story; should there be any skeptic around. And then Thad had the wonderful mushroomed bullet that had killed that six-pronged buck; so that as they narrated the first adventure that had come their way, they could produce evidence to back up the story.