"Pooh! who cares!" cried Whopper. "I am going to get one of those deer if I die for it."
"So say I!" put in Shep. "Remember, we ought to get quite some game on hand, in case we get snowed in at the camp."
The sky had become overcast, and this was what made it seem colder. The wind, too, was springing up, and they were glad to keep to the sheltered portions of the ground so far as the journey after the deer permitted.
Inside of fifteen minutes they covered more than a quarter of a mile.
Yet no deer were to be seen.
"Whopper, didn't you make some mistake?" asked Snap, coming to a halt.
"I am sure I saw the deer."
"Whopper must have been deceived in the distance," said Giant. "Things look closer on the water, or when the ground is covered with snow."
"Perhaps that's it," answered Whopper. "Anyway, the deer were somewhere out here, I'm sure."
Again they went on, but soon came to a series of rocks, where walking was difficult. Giant slipped on one of the rocks and barked his left shin.
"Oh dear!" he cried, in pain. "I don't like this much. It is a regular
Rocky Road to Dublin!"