As they drew near, they found the track again, and again saw
those curious scrapes.
Every hunter knows that the bluejay dashing about a thicket means
that hidden there is game of some kind, probably deer. Very,
very slowly and silently they entered that copse. But nothing
appeared until there was a rush in the thickest part and up
leaped the buck. This was too much for Skookum. He shot forward
like a wolf, fastened on one hind leg, and the buck went crashing
head over heels. Before it could rise, another shot ended its
troubles. And now a careful study shed the light desired. Rolf's
first shot had hit the antler near the base, breaking it, except
for the skin on one side, and had stunned the buck. The second
shot had broken a hind leg. The scratching places he had made
were efforts to regain the use of this limb, and at one of them
the deer had fallen and parted the rag of skin by which the
antler hung.
It was Rolf's first important trailing on the ground; it showed
how possible it was, and how quickly he was learning the hardest
of all the feats of woodcraft.
Chapter 49. Rolf Gets Lost
Every one who lives in the big woods gets lost at some time.
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