"What is it?"
"I just saw the eyes of some wild animal back there. See! There they are now!"
As Jack spoke he raised his gun and blazed away. This shot was followed by one from Spouter.
The reports were followed almost immediately by a snarl and a whining cry, and they heard some animal thrashing around wildly in the bushes behind the spring, sending the loose snow flying in all directions.
"We hit it, whatever it is," announced Jack.
"What do you suppose it can be?" questioned Spouter quickly. "It wasn't a deer, was it?"
"I don't think so, Spouter. It was too low down for that. Maybe it was a fox, although it didn't sound like it."
"Perhaps there are brook mink around this spring."
"Maybe."
"Are you going back there to find out?" went on Spouter, for the sounds in the brushwood had now ceased.