Both lads hurried forward toward the fallen deer; but Bob felt a quiver of apprehension when he discovered three burly figures hastening to arrive there ahead of them.
"Oh! they are French trappers, Bob!" exclaimed Sandy, though he betrayed not the least symptom of holding back.
"Yes, and we must be careful what we do!" remarked Bob, uneasily.
"But it is your deer, for he fell when you fired!" Sandy declared, stubbornly.
In another minute the brothers had arrived at the spot, to find the foot of a dark-faced forest ranger planted on the dead buck, and three pairs of snapping black eyes looking at them in defiance.
Apparently their right to the game was about to be seriously questioned!
CHAPTER VII
THE THREE FRENCH TRAPPERS
"Keep cool, now, Sandy!" advised Bob, as he felt his brother trembling with indignation because of this bold attitude on the part of the trio of French forest rangers, who evidently believed in the maxim that "might makes right."