Clay who had been roaming around in the sticky soil which the river had deposited on the inundated lands, now came rushing up to the boat.
“Get out the rifle!” he said, speaking softly to Case. “There’s a fine deer back there in the thicket. We’ll have venison for dinner.”
All was excitement in a moment. Case brought out the magazine rifle, and all three started for the thicket where Clay had seen the deer. Captain Joe was left in the cabin, with instructions to devour any stranger who should try to scrape his acquaintance.
The boys walked cautiously for a short distance, then Clay stopped and pointed to a dense growth of bushes and brambles just ahead. Out of the tangle lifted the head of a deer.
“Why doesn’t she run?” asked Alex in a whisper.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Clay replied. “She stood just like that when I went away to get the rifle. She must have heard me working my way through the undergrowth. Maybe she’s dead—killed standing!”
“Dead!” Alex grinned. “Don’t you see her move her head? There, she’s pulled it down now, so there’s nothing to be seen of her. Did you ever see handsomer eyes in a creature’s head?” he added.
“Looked like she was asking us to come and help her,” Case declared.
“I noticed that,” Clay mentioned. “I wonder what is the matter with her. I’m going in there to see. Keep still, you fellows.”
Clay crawled through the thicket on his hands and knees, parting the bushes right and left, and making as little noise as possible. Directly he lifted a hand out of the undergrowth and motioned for Case and Alex to follow him. The deer had again raised her head above the tangle and stood looking at the boys with pleading eyes.