“Just what I was thinking. We ought to get on the ground before sun-up.”
The boys spoke to their parents about going away early and, receiving consent, set to work that evening at cleaning and oiling up the two rifles to be taken along, and also arranging their fishing lines, for they did not intend to rely upon hunting entirely to fill the household larder.
It was not yet four o’clock when Joe pinched Harry’s arm and awoke him. Silently, so as not to awaken the other sleepers, the boys slipped into their clothing and went into the living room.
Here Mrs. Parsons had left a cold breakfast for them, and this they swallowed with all speed. Then, with a drink of water to wash down the food, they took up their weapons and their lines and sallied forth in the early dawn.
The grass was heavy with dew and the early morning birds were just beginning to pipe up when they passed out of sight of the cabin and along the tiny brook Harry had mentioned. They walked with caution and when they spoke it was in a whisper.
“The wind is just right,” said Harry. “If it was blowing the other way they’d spot us before we so much as caught a sight of ’em.”
As they drew closer to the spot where Harry had seen the tracks they moved with increased caution and finally threw themselves down in the grass and wormed along behind some low bushes and rocks.
When Harry had gained a position he considered just right he halted and motioned for Joe to do the same. Each examined his rifle to make certain it was ready for use, and then each set his gaze on a spot which Harry indicated with his finger to his chum.
A half-hour went by, and there was no sight of a deer or anything else coming down to the brook. But these young pioneers had learned the value of patience in hunting, and each remained in his position without a word of complaint.
Ten minutes more and Joe saw something moving in the bushes just above the spot his chum had pointed out. It was a beautiful buck with graceful antlers and a skin that shone finely in the early dawn.