When without the least warning there was a sudden rattling sound heard, and a large brown animal was seen departing with great leaps, X-Ray gave utterance to a gasp of disappointment.
Even as the two young hunters threw their guns to their shoulders the fleeting caribou suddenly shifted its course, and turning abruptly to the right, sped on. It now presented a splendid mark, and the two shots rang out almost as one.
A remarkable thing happened just then. With the crash of their rifles the animal was seen to leap high in the air, just as deer often will when stricken in full flight. And to the astonishment of the boys another report sounded from the other side of the caribou!
“He’s down, Phil!” shrilled X-Ray, trembling with the excitement.
“Yes, come on!” replied the other, immediately starting forward as fast as he could go on his snow-shoes.
“But, Phil, wasn’t that another shot we heard?” expostulated X-Ray Tyson, as he did his level best to keep close to the heels of his chum.
“Yes, it was a gunshot,” snapped Phil, who seemed to be laboring under some sort of emotion, though X-Ray could not say what its character might be.
They could see where the caribou had struck when he fell. His antlered head was resting on the snow, showing that he had fallen with that last leap, with his legs under him.
Phil saw a figure advancing from the opposite quarter, and also on snow-shoes. He was pleased to note there was only one, for he anticipated that there was likely to be trouble of some sort around that locality before long.
“There the other hunter comes, Phil!” said X-Ray, wanting to be sure that his chum was made aware of the important fact.