Nick replied, and in the course of half an hour had joined Sam and Herbert by the fire.
They were relieved beyond expression to see the figure of the sturdy little fellow, as he emerged from the gloom, and took his seat around the camp fire.
They noticed that he limped, and knew something unusual must have taken place to delay him. He had the most attentive of listeners when he related his dangerous encounter with the buck, which came so nigh ending his life.
But, happily, he had come out without any serious injury, and the lads attacked their supper with the keenest of appetites.
"The reason the buck did not kill you," said Herbert, "was because he was disabled by the wound I gave him."
"He was struck by one bullet only, and that one was mine," said Nick, who saw no sense in deferring to the absurd claims of the youth.
"Possibly not, but we shall have to examine his carcass to make sure of that."
"I don't believe we shall have much time to look after dead deer," said Sam, "for I believe we are in the neighborhood of the very bear we're looking for."
His friends turned toward him for an explanation of this remark, which was uttered with all seriousness.
"Bowser has been acting very queer for the last half-hour."