lder boys were .30, so that it would only be possible to tell whether the boys from Ohio had

long, and when they saw the size of the antlers an

glad it wasn't he that made a jump f

, the branches of the antlers w

prongs," ejaculated Tom, who ha

asserted Bill. "Just look at their sp

le, right back of the shoulder. It certainly was a splendid shot." And as he bent clos

" he declar

. He's a better marksman t

rally disappointed, they made th

s go into the woods a

irst time I fired.

dress the two bucks. If you are not back by the time I am

boys entered the woods while the others

anchman cut out the most savory

the antlers?"

n the way while we're hunting. What do you think, Mr. Wil

an. "If you want them very much, though, we can leave them here and

stooping to pick up one end of the hide, conta

that thing u

d Tom, and then added: "But you d

h," answered Mr. Wilder. "Now's your chance to show your marksmans

rifle to position, the lad squinted al

ear-splitting howl, and the mountain Hon

u hit him, but not in a vi

is time with better success, for

mighty long shot to make. Now if Bill and Larry

ting toward his prize when his father

r of the chums when they reached the carcass

horses by I don't know. Mountain lions are great ones for horse or cattle flesh. While I am dressing the buck you boys had better climb u

er, the lads started up the trail and, though they went

ly travel in pairs, so keep you

y heard the purr of one of the prowlers, t

tails to the rocks, and were sniff

ce soothingly. And setting down his

relief to the ponies, and after a few

ell things, oh, way off." And sitting down, Horace entertained his companion with stories of the keen scent of horses, which lost none of their color because of his lively i

e saw the barrels leveled at him, and then, as he noted the alarm

vously, the

ded, "to leave me to bring up all the

hey had found the ponies and sai

continued seriously, "when you are in the mountains you must never talk about things that will excite you. There are so many thi

p impression on the lads and

e heavens and its heat

ommanded Mr. Wilder. "We'll get dinner ready

said Tom, looking at his watch

nchman, "a fact that you should remember, and with

eau to the cooler woods and stood contentedly, now and then

venison broiling In the saucepan, and the aroma was so

tter it tastes when you've shot it yourself," declared Tom. "I

n air certainly do give a zest t

e on the fire so it will be rea

our later before they

om and Horace, running to the edge of

sight, and before they did the others had learned t

broken and it was lying down when I came upon it. The p

hot," interrupted Tom. "

basin," answered his brother. "It must have been al

sil

ou follow it?"

and where it

g-the animals have such wonderful vitality that they travel miles and miles after being crippled and then drop from exhaustion, like this on

it was too long a haul," said Bill aft

her. "In fact, we have so much tha

we hunt?" pro

eturned h

r slayers, you may have knocked over some bu

"He must have been asleep. You can't hit a deer,

a dandy long shot. Tom said so

d well, son," int

er Bill wounded a hit," said Larry. "This is sure Jim dandy hunting

ent of the difference in hunting grounds,

for the night?" inquired Ho

tains. We'll have a better chance for bear t

ger to be on the move and gla

tering a basin similar to that where they had captured their deer. On

and this effect was heightened b

ld also be a good idea to have our camp fire close beside them. Then, if any prowler smells the deer meat or the horses,

that he was in charge

ess Mr. Wilder will attend to the horses, and we

nd ran to get dry limbs and b

e ranchman at last, "and, besides, supper is

u get the water to bo

ns. I filled the

could look for water. I was surprised y

nd the camp fire after supper, talking and listening to

n, they rolled themselves up in their bl

leeping till long after sunrise, there bei

to push on or stay where they were and set a bear trap w

mped to their feet, trying

can hear the click of horseshoe

, and the next moment his opinion was confirmed by Hora

ils! It'

ed Bill to the chums. "What do

e are so many possibilities,

few moments the cowboy called Nails das

f his mount that something seri

wrong,

t everybody you could and meet him at the Witches' Pool to-morro