“Did you see anybody near the deer?” asked Teddy as he and Dick trotted along beside Joe.
“No. He was all alone. He was feeding quietly. Then, just before you fellows got here, he seemed to take fright. He raised his head. I was about fifty feet away and I could see him very well. Then, all of a sudden, he turned around and walked off through the woods.”
“Maybe you scared him,” suggested Teddy.
“No. I didn’t move or make a sound. I was still and quiet. I could see the deer as plain as anything. But I thought you fellows would never—”
“Hark!” suddenly interrupted Teddy.
They stopped and listened. Ahead of them they could hear the clatter and cracking of the branches of trees and bushes.
“That’s the deer!” cried Joe. “He’s just ahead of us!”
“We’ll get him now!” exclaimed Teddy.
“Hurry!” advised Dick.
In the excitement of the chase, neither of the boys gave thought to how they might capture the mystery deer even if they got within sight. They had nothing with which to make the animal fast. They broke into a run. It wasn’t quite so dark now. A half moon was beginning to lift in the dark sky and it gave a little light.