As he came down over the doctor's son, the boy was badly frightened and gave the buck a shove with his hand. Weak from loss of blood the beast fell over. Then Shep struck him a blow over the head with the gun stock and Giant finished him with a shot at close range. In the meantime the other deer that had been mortally wounded was put out of its misery; and then the short but sharp contest came to an end.
"What a haul!" ejaculated Snap, as he reloaded his weapon. "This is something to make town folks stare!"
"We must send some of the deer home," put in Whopper.
"Yes, yes!" cried the others.
It was with tremendous pride that the four young hunters looked the game over. The deer were young and tender, and the buck had a fine head, fit for mounting.
"This haul will open the eyes of the Spink crowd," remarked Whopper.
"If they weren't so mean we might send them some venison," said Shep.
"They wouldn't thank you for it," broke in Giant. "They are too high-toned for that sort of thing."
With so much game the boys hardly knew what to do. The deer were heavy and it was all two of them cared to do carrying one between them, hung from a pole.
"Well, we have got to get them to the lake somehow," said Snap.
"So the sooner we get at the job the better. Don't grumble."