"Hi! what's up?" came in old Benson's voice.
"The deer are after us!" yelled Joe. "Shoot 'em quick!"
Hardly had the lad spoken when he felt one of the deer close behind him. He leaped to one side, and the animal charged past with great vigor, considering how badly he was wounded. But that charge was his last, for Benson's rifle spoke up, and the animal fell lifeless where he stood.
In the meantime Darry was having his hands full with the second deer. The youth had been unable to reload, and now he found himself in a thicket, with the deer fairly on top of him. He caught his firearm by the barrel and hit the animal a resounding blow on the head. This made the deer stagger back and pause.
"Help! help!" yelled the boy. "Somebody shoot this beast!"
"I'm coming!" came in Captain Moore's voice. "Where are you?"
"Here, in the bush! Quick, or he'll stick me to death!"
The deer was now charging with lowered head. He was in a fearful rage. As he came on there was a sharp report, and the young captain burst into view, his rifle barrel still smoking. Then the deer gave one last leap into the air, and came down upon Darry. The fall knocked the boy senseless.
While Captain Moore was removing the weight from Darry's body, the old scout came up, followed by Joe.
"Hullo, he got it, did he?" said Benson. "Is he badly hurt?"