“How did you feel when going through the air?” questioned the other, able to smile now at the odd spectacle Roger had presented, although at the time it had seemed a serious thing indeed.
“About as near like flying as I ever expect to know,” admitted Roger. “And, just as soon as I found myself in the midst of the branches of that tree, why something made me take hold and stick there. I seemed to know the old fellow was waiting down below to trample me into bits if I dropped back, and I wasn’t meaning to oblige him if I could help it.”
“We might manage to chop off one of his hoofs with our knives to show when we get back to camp, and prove that we really killed a moose,” suggested Dick.
“That is a good idea,” agreed his cousin; and it did not take them long to carry the plan out. After this they left the spot, and resumed their hunt, Roger having recovered and loaded his rifle.
They were a little afraid lest the sound of the gunshots might have caused any deer happening to be in the vicinity to take the alarm and flee. This would be too bad, after setting their hearts on procuring a supply of fresh meat.
It turned out, however, that the deer did not know the deadly significance of the firing of a gun, for within twenty minutes after leaving the dead bull moose, the boys started a deer, and Roger this time managed to do himself justice when he pulled trigger, for the young stag bounded high in the air to fall in a quivering heap.
There was ample time to cut the game up and make their way back to camp with their prize. Nor did they have the slightest difficulty in gaining the spot where the expedition had planned to spend the coming night, thanks to Dick’s way of keeping his bearings when on a hunt.
These little side excursions were always in great favor with the two boys. In carrying them out they were really killing two birds with one stone; for they not only saw considerable of the country, and met with adventures that pleased their love of action, but at the same time they were able to keep the camp well supplied with fresh meat.
When they got back on this particular afternoon they found that there was an Indian in the camp with whom Captain Lewis was making terms looking to his serving them as guide until the lofty mountain range had been crossed. It was of prime importance that they find that pass, and cross over at the lowest possible level. Once the lower ground on the other side was reached, they could congratulate themselves that the worst was over.
At the ending of the next day they found themselves at the actual foot of the mountains, of which they hoped to commence the ascent with the advent of another morning.