Jack looked for the cause of the trouble, and found that in taking the gun apart to clean it he had not screwed in far enough a certain bolt, which projected and prevented the breech mechanism from working. The trouble was soon remedied, and the rifle was ready for use again.
“Well, you can shoot the next buck,” remarked Will as the two looked at the carcass of the big animal.
“Not to-day. I’d shake worse than you did if I tried to aim. We’ll do no more hunting to-day. We’ll go back and get Nat, and take this to camp. There’s enough for a week.”
It was with no little difficulty that the three boys loaded the best parts of the buck on their horses and started back to camp. They found that Sam and Bony had arrived ahead of them, Sam having killed a fine ram.
“Well, I know what I’m going to do to-day,” remarked Jack the next morning.
“What?” inquired Nat.
“I’m going to have another try at that mystery.”
“Do you think it’ll be safe?”
“I don’t see why. I’m going to try to get to that camp from another trail, and if they see me the worst they can do will be to order me away again.”
“I’m with you,” declared Nat, and the others agreed to accompany the senior member of the gun club.