Part 17 (2/2)

”Same here,” came from Bluff.

”Then go!”

There followed a crash of firearms. Instantly confusion broke out among the little herd of feeding elk. One was down, another went limping off, to fall as Frank sent in a second hasty shot; while the balance fairly flew off in their fright.

”Hurrah!” shouted the hunters, as they saw that they had met with splendid success, since two of the big animals had fallen to their guns.

Bluff looked grimly disappointed.

”I hit my buck, for I saw him go down on his knees,” he a.s.serted moodily.

”Oh, that ain't anything. An elk often runs off with several bad wounds.

I only hope he don't die in the woods somewhere,” said Reddy, examining the tracks of those that had escaped.

”Will it pay us to follow them up and see if Bluff's buck fell?” asked Frank, more to please his chum than because they needed the game.

”Nope. The buck runs like he wasn't even hurt much. No ketchin' up with them fellers after that riot call. We'd best pay attention to what we've got, and return to camp,” replied the guide; and Bluff shrugged his shoulders, saying:

”But I hit him, anyhow, I'll tell you that, fellows.”

Frank found that all Reddy meant to do was to hang the two elk up, after they had cut some choice portions for immediate use. The other cowboys would come with the horses, on their way down the river, on the morrow, and secure the game.

”We got fooled out of elk steaks once and don't mean to again, I tell you,” said Jerry, as he shouldered his portion of the load.

So they returned to camp.

”What's this?” said Mr. Mabie as they came filing in. ”Back already, and only out two hours? Got some meat, too, I see. That's good. Such appet.i.tes as you boys are developing threaten to eat us out of house and home soon, unless we eke out with game. Who cut up the elk?”

”The boys all took a hand. They wanted to learn,” smiled Reddy.

”I kind of thought they had,” nodded the stockman, who could easily see that it was not the work of an experienced hand.

Bluff failed to catch the twinkle of humor in the other's eyes.

”Yes, and I could have made even a better job if I'd had the knife along I foolishly went and left at home,” he remarked disconsolately, whereat Jerry, Will and Frank exchanged looks, and shrugged their shoulders, but said nothing; for in a case of that kind words are useless.

They were all very enthusiastic that night over the feast. The cook had dutifully pounded the steaks before placing the same on the fire, so that if they seemed tough it was not his fault.

The meat, however, was sweet and tasty; and besides, with hunger serving as the best-known sauce, who could complain?

Bluff kept on the lookout for the mate of his panther, but if the old fellow was prowling around he had more discretion than to show himself while these hunters were near by.

With the morning the camp was to be abandoned. Tents came down while they were eating breakfast, and everything was packed away in as small a compa.s.s as possible, for carrying on the backs of the pack horses, which were brought in from the pen, or corral, where they had been kept all this while, in charge of a guard.

The three bullboats awaited the adventurous ones. These were of the type much used in this far region of the Northwest, being fas.h.i.+oned of tough hides of bulls, and impervious to water.

Besides their guns, which were strapped to their backs, the voyagers carried little or nothing. In case of an upset they did not stand to worry over anything except saving their own lives.

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