Luckily, there was a small rise of rocks between the game and the boys, and using this as a shelter, they approached closer and closer to the deer.
“Now all fire when I give the signal, a sharp whistle,” said Jack. “Don’t fire before, and don’t forget to have a second charge ready for your guns.”
With these instructions, he stationed Andy and Boxy in one spot, Pickles in another, and then went on with Harry.
Fifty feet farther Jack and Harry came to a halt, and selected places not over two yards apart.
“I’ll take the one by the tree,” whispered Jack. “You take any of the others you please. All ready?”
“Yes.”
At that instant one of the deer raised his head and sniffed the air. Something had alarmed him.
Jack gave a sharp whistle, and up came the other deer heads.
Bang! bang! bang! went the rifle and the guns in a running fire. One of the deer leaped up into the air and fell mortally wounded. A second staggered off, shot in the fore legs. The others were apparently unharmed, and bounded off down the valley on the wings of the wind.
“Go for the wounded one!” shouted Harry, as he rammed another load into his gun. “I’m going after those other deer!”