The noise of the boys increased. Plainly some animal was making its way through the little patch of woods ahead of them.
Then, suddenly, Teddy who was now in the lead, came to such an abrupt stop that Joe bumped into him.
“What’s the matter?” Joe demanded.
“Wrong number!” cried Teddy, starting to retreat.
“Wrong number?” questioned his two chums.
“Yes. Can’t you smell it?”
A dank, strong and most oppressive odor was wafted to the three boys.
“Skunk!” they cried together. “Skunk!” And Teddy added: “Come on! Beat it before we get any closer! We might have bumped right into him if we’d kept on!”
It was all too evident they were in the neighborhood of a skunk. And they well knew the consequences of coming to close quarters with one of these animals. Harmless if left alone, a skunk can loose a barrage of what is practically a poison gas—not deadly but terribly offensive.
“So that was your deer—just a skunk, Joe!” taunted Teddy as the three boys started back to their homes.