"That bullet struck him in the chest and will be found buried in his body."
"He doesn't know you fired at him," said Sam Harper, as the buck, a moment later, turned about and walked out of sight.
"The deer doesn't fall at once, even if you drive the bullet through his heart. That buck may go a hundred yards or so, but he will then drop as if struck by lightning."
The confidence with which these words were uttered puzzled Nick and caused him to think that possibly the boaster was right after all, and he had made the shot he claimed.
The truth would probably be learned during the afternoon, for Nick meant to learn it for himself.
Now that they agreed to separate, it was decided that Herbert should keep straight along the route they had been following. Sam should diverge to the right, while Nick would swerve far enough to the left to pass the rock whereupon the buck stood at the time he was shot or rather shot at.
"I am bound to find out the truth," said Nick, with a shake of the head.
And so he did; but little did he dream of what was to happen to him during this search for the truth.