They pressed on, over one of the hills, and then towards the cliffs and rough rocks. Soon Jed held up his hand.
"Have you spotted any?" whispered Shep, eagerly.
The old hunter nodded, and then pointed to the edge of one of the cliffs. Under, in something of a shelter, they could see several deer and not far away a big, sturdy buck, all feeding on some tender saplings which they were stripping of bark.
"Oh, what a shot!" whispered Giant, excitedly.
"We'll try to git a bit closer," said Jed Sanborn. "But don't make any noise, or we'll have to follow 'em until they get winded."
Hardly daring to breathe after that, the boys followed the old hunter in and out among the cliffs and rough rocks. This was the hardest part of the journey and both Snap and Whopper went down, the latter twice, much to his disgust.
"Now, don't make a sound," cautioned Jed Sanborn. "And don't show yourselves till I tell you to."
They were passing down between the rough rocks, and soon came to a spot where there were several thick clumps of bushes. Here the old hunter went ahead again. Then he motioned for the boys to drop down low and they did so. Peering forth through the bushes they could now see the deer close at hand. The big buck, however, was not visible.
"Where is the buck?" whispered Snap in Jed's ear. The young leader of the Gun Club wished very much to lay that magnificent beast low.
The old hunter pointed to a nearby cliff.