“All right,” Hamp whispered.
Just then a loud halloo was heard up the valley, and an instant later the crunching of hoofs and the threshing of bushes rose near by. Now the herd burst into sight, and it was an unexpected surprise to the boys to see eight fat deer leaping onward through the narrow pass.
Bang! went Hamp’s rifle, and the leader of the herd, a huge buck, dropped dead in his tracks.
Brick also singled out a buck, but excitement unsteadied his hand, and he merely wounded the animal in the hind flank. As the rest of the herd scurried by, the lads fired several shots apiece, but without visible effect.
Then they sprang out from cover, well content with what they had accomplished.
The wounded buck had toppled over, but at sight of his enemies he staggered to his feet, and made a rush on three legs for Hamp, snorting savagely. The lad had just time to dodge behind the rock. Indeed, his escape from the antlers was very close.
The buck then turned and went for Brick, who skillfully and coolly ended its career with a charge of heavy shot.
“Hurrah! two dead,” cried Hamp, as he left his place of shelter. “What a streak of luck!”
“Isn’t it glorious?” answered Brick. “Jerry will hardly believe his eyes when he gets here. Say, look there,” he added, in a loud and excited voice.
Hamp looked and uttered a yell of delight. Then both lads rushed toward the mouth of the valley, taking great strides over the snow.