Then he made a
sweep with his hand and pointed, to let Quonab know the buck had
gone across and he himself must go around. But he lingered still
and with his eyes swept the near woods. Then, dim gray among the
gray twigs, he saw a slight movement, so slight it might have
been made by the tail of a tomtit. But it fixed his attention,
and out of this gray haze he slowly made out the outline of a
deer's head, antlers, and neck. A hundred yards away, but "take
a chance when it comes" is hunter wisdom. Rolf glanced at the
sight, took steady aim, fired, and down went the buck behind a
log. Skookum whined and leaped high in his eagerness to see.
Rolf restrained his impatience to rush forward, at once reloaded,
then all three went quickly to the place. Before they were
within fifty yards, the deer leaped up and bounded off. At
seventy-five yards, it stood for a moment to gaze. Rolf fired
again; again the buck fell down, but jumped to its feet and
bounded away.
They went to the two places, but found no blood. Utterly puzzled,
they gave it up for the day, as already the shades of night were
on the woods, and in spite of Skookum's voluble offer to solve
and settle everything, they returned to the cabin.
Pages:
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270