"Here, you! Just hold your horses! I'm going over yonder and strike you off as you hang there. It will do to amuse the girls when we get home. We don't often have a chance to bring the photographer into these pictures. Now, here you are. Look pleasant! There! That job's done! Now yank him up, fellows, and don't be too easy with him. He deserves a good digging for scaring us so."
But Will had suffered no material harm from his little slide.
"Glad I stopped part way," he observed, looking down, "for it's quite some distance to the
bottom, and then those rocks would have bruised me more than a little. Yes, I agree with Bluff, there; it's better to be born lucky than rich."
After that they saw to it that Will did not lag behind. He was not to be trusted any more than could be helped.
Reddy was as good as his word. He eventually brought them within sight of several feeding elk. They carried out his further directions to the letter, and were thus enabled to approach within easy gunshot of the unsuspicious animals.
A program had been arranged, and every one knew just what part in it he was expected to play. Consequently, there was no confusion. Frank, Jerry and Bluff had their chance to aim. To each was assigned a different quarry, though after the first shot they were to fire as they pleased.
"Ready?" whispered the master of ceremonies, after Will had performed his little, necessary operation with his camera that would produce happy results.
"Yes," said Frank.
"Ditto!" from Jerry.