He had scarcely spoken when Jack raised his gun and fired. Then the oldest Rover boy fired again, both shots being taken before the others could get their guns into action.
"It's a fox!" cried Randy. "Jack, I guess you got him, too!"
"I hope so," was Jack's answer as he stopped to reload his weapon.
The animal he had fired at had been running across a small opening between the trees. At the first shot the game had made a turn, and at the second had given a leap and disappeared into a small hollow filled with snow.
When the boys reached the hollow all they could see at first was the snow which had been kicked in several directions. But then they caught sight of a bushy tail peeping forth from the white covering.
"It's a fox, all right enough!" exclaimed Gif.
"Look out there! He may not be dead," warned Fred. "If he's alive and you touch him he may give you quite a bite."
They advanced with caution, and Gif turned the animal over with the end of his gun barrel. He exposed a large fox of a silvery grey color. It was quite dead.
"A silver fox!" came from Andy.
"Jack, you've had your wish," said Gif. "It's a silver fox, all right enough."