“We are in a pickle now, and no error!” groaned Harry. “What in the world are we to do next?”
“Well, I reckon you can take another snap shot if you wish,” answered Joe, dryly.
“This is no joking matter, Joe. I feel like smashing my camera over their heads.”
“The best thing we can do is to stay here.”
“I’m going to kill another wolf or two if I can.”
Harry re-loaded and took careful aim at the largest wolf in the pack. But the beast was wary, and just as the young hunter pulled the trigger it leaped to one side, so that the shot flew wide of its mark, striking another wolf in the tail, causing an added howl of pain and rage, but no serious damage.
After that the wolves seemed inclined to keep their distance. Occasionally one would draw closer, with nose uplifted, sniffing the blood of the deer, but as soon as one or the other of the lads raised his gun the beast would slink back behind a tree, bush, or rock.
“I guess they are going to play a waiting game,” said Joe, after a dreary half hour had passed.
“Do you think they expect us to come down?”
“They know we won’t want to remain up here forever.”