"I guess they got word we were coming," remarked his partner. "They know we have two mighty hunters with us," and he glanced at the lads.
"I can only speak for myself," replied Jed, in low tones, which they all used. "I'm a crack shot, but my brother has hard work hitting the broadside of a barn door."
"I'll punch you for that, when we get back to camp!" exclaimed Will in a tense whisper.
"Hark!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. Curtin.
They were silent in an instant. Then, through the quiet woods, came a sound of underbrush being trampled under feet.
"Here's something coming," whispered Mr. Hurd. He raised his rifle in readiness, the others following his example. Hardly had they done so, ere, from the bushes, there stepped out a magnificent elk. It looked so big and imposing, as it stood there in the forest, that Jed and Will forgot that they were hunting and stood staring at the creature, that was so surprised at the sudden appearance of human beings on its preserves that it did not instantly flee from danger.
An instant later Mr. Hurd fired, and, at the same moment, the elk bounded off through the trees.
"Shoot, somebody!" cried the man who had fired. His companion's gun spoke, but too late.
"After him!" shouted Mr. Hurd. "I only wounded him. We've got to come up with him quickly, or he'll be miles away. But I think I crippled him. I don't want him to go off in the woods and die in misery."
Jed and Will were off on a run, their nimble legs carrying them ahead faster than did the limbs of the two miners.