At that moment the deer turned partly around and looked squarely at the boys. They were evidently taken completely by surprise and their heads went up high as they discovered the enemy. Then, without further hesitation they leaped forward, toward the dense timber ahead.
Bang! went Shep's shotgun, and crack! came the sharp report of
Whopper's rifle. Before the echoes had died away the last of the deer
leaped high in the air, made a part turn and then came down heavily.
Then it got up, ran several paces and fell again and began to kick.
"I hit him!"
"So did I!"
"Let's try for another!"
But to try for another was out of the question. With the fall of the hind one, the others reached the shelter of the dense timber and in a second more were completely out of sight, and running as only frightened deer can run when they know it is a case of life or death for them.
When the two young hunters reached the side of the fallen deer it was just breathing its last.
The bullet from the rifle had entered its side and the buckshot had struck in the neck and shoulder.
"We both brought him down," said Shep.
"Pity we didn't get the others," grumbled Whopper.