“What’s the matter with our strolling off and seeing if we can’t get a shot at something?” suggested Jack to Tom.
“Suits me first rate,” was the response. “Come on.”
The two lads shouldered their rifles and made off into the woods, which were not particularly thick in the vicinity of the open space where they had alighted. As they had not much time at their disposal the boys were ready to fire at the first thing they saw that looked edible. Peering intently about they made their way forward.
Suddenly there was a rush and scramble in a thicket ahead of them and some small creatures rushed out, snorting and grunting.
Jack’s rifle was at his shoulder like a flash. He fired two shots and Tom followed with another.
Having fired, they ran forward quickly, and found that two small animals that looked like miniature pigs had fallen before their rifles. They were indeed a variety of wild swine common enough in that district, and weighed about forty or fifty pounds apiece.
Highly delighted with the results of their marksmanship, the boys set out to return to camp. Tom carried one of the slain porkers while Jack shouldered the other.
“Pork chops for dinner, all right,” chuckled Tom, who was slightly in advance. “I guess——”
Jack, who was a few paces behind, and from whom Tom was temporarily hidden, noticed the abrupt breaking off of Tom’s speech.
“Well, go on,” he admonished. “I’m listening. I——”