Instantly a squirrel’s head appeared; his lordship looked out to see what was the cause of the disturbance.
Jack took quick aim and fired. The head disappeared, but whether the animal had been hit or not they could not tell.
“I’ll climb up and investigate,” said Boxy. “I have an idea there is more than one squirrel in that tree.”
“Yes, it looks hollow,” returned Harry. “Let me give you a boost up.”
“Don’t you shoot me for a squirrel while I’m up there,” laughed Boxy, and up he started.
“Humph! you don’t climb like a squirrel,” commented Andy, as Boxy gripped and twisted to gain the lower branches of the tree.
It was a struggle to gain those lower limbs, but Boxy finally accomplished it, and began to poke into the hole with a stick. Almost instantly a couple of squirrels sprang out and darted past him, and out to where the branches of another tree hung close.
One of the frisky animals made the leap in safety, and darted out of sight before those below could take aim at him.
The second was not so fortunate. He hesitated for an instant, and that proved fatal. Harry’s gun spoke, and down he dropped at the young hunter’s feet.
The shot, scattering through the branches behind him, frightened Boxy, who imagined that he was in danger of being hit, although such was not the case, as Harry was careful of what he was doing. The boy up at the squirrel hole shrunk backward, and then, to the amazement of his companions, disappeared entirely!