Breakfast over, the boys once more took the trail. They were heading for Oak Forest and about half an hour after leaving camp they were crossing a large field in one corner of which several cows were grazing.
Suddenly Hopper began to bark and act excited.
“What’s the matter with him?” asked Teddy.
“I don’t know,” answered Fatty. “Never knew him to get excited about cows before. Here, Hopper, where are you going?” he yelled as the dog, with loud barks, rushed for the herd of cows. “Come back!”
But the hound did not obey. And then Teddy and his chums saw the reason. In with the herd of cows, cropping grass as they were, stood an animal with branching horns.
“Look!” yelled Teddy. “The mystery deer! There he is!”
“Golly! Sure enough, it is the deer,” echoed Joe.
“But the dog! The dog!” cried Dick. “He’ll kill the deer! Call him back, Fatty!”
“Here, Hopper! Hopper! Come back!” ordered the fat boy. But the hound, with loud barks, was leaping toward the herd of cows in the midst of which was the strange deer.
The cows separated as the dog rushed toward them, leaving a cleared space in the middle of which stood the deer who threw up his head and looked at the oncoming dog.