"I didn't see you—I was looking at the other deer," explained the doctor's son.
"Can we get any more of 'em?" demanded Whopper.
"Whopper always wants a dozen or two," laughed Giant.
"No more deer to-day, lad," said Jed Sanborn. "I think we have had remarkable luck. Why, sometimes a crowd like this can tramp all day and not get a sight of a deer. As it is, we're going to have some fun getting our game home."
"Oh, we can't carry such a load!" cried Giant.
"We'll cut some drags and get 'em to camp that way," said the old hunter.
He pointed out two saplings which might do for drags, and they cut them down with the axe the old hunter had brought along. Then they placed the two largest of the deer on one and the buck and the smallest deer on the other, thus making the loads about even. Some of the branches of the saplings had been cut off, so that they trailed over the snow rather flatly, which was what was desired.
They had brought lunch with them, and before they started on the return they built a small campfire and made themselves a pot of chocolate, something of which Jed was exceedingly fond.
"I don't go much on candy," said he, "but chocolate seemed to hit the spot, better'n coffee or tea."
"I like them all," answered Snap.