y crept through the underbrush and down toward the
glade in which the deer were feeding.

The animals did not become suspicious until they were less than a
hundred yards away. Then, of a sudden, the leader threw up his head and
began to sniff the air.

"Now fire," said Benson in a low tone.

At once the four rifles came up, and each hunter took steady aim. Darry
and Joe fired at the same instant, and the young captain and Benson
discharged their pieces immediately after.

The aim of the two older hunters was true, and two deer fell dead after
going less than six steps. But the other game was only wounded, Joe's
deer in the side and Darry's in the flank, and they bounded away up the
hillside.

"Missed!" groaned Joe, and slipped another cartridge into his firearm.
Darry did the same, and both fired a second time. Then, seeing how badly
the deer were wounded, they ran after the animals.

The course of the deer was straight for the timber down the
mountain-side, and through the brush crashed quarry and boys until
another hundred yards were covered. Then, coming to a rocky cliff, and
being unable to leap to the top, the deer came to a halt.

"Do you see 'em?" panted Darry, almost out of breath with running.

"Yes--there they are!" returned Joe. "See?"

"I do. They can't get up the rocks. Joe, we've got 'em after all. We
must shoot----Gracious!"

The boy broke off short, and with good reason. The deer had spotted
them, and now without warning turned and ran straight for both, as if to
gore them to death!

CHAPTER XIII.

A FISH AND A SNAKE.

"Look out, Darry, or he'll kill you!"

"Look out for yourself, Joe!"

These cries were followed by two shots, as both the young hunters
discharged their weapons. But in their haste the aim of each was poor,
and the bullets flew wide of the mark. Then the maddened deer came
closer, and both boys took to their heels, running as they had never run
before.

"Hi! what's up?" came in old Benson's voice.

"The deer are after us!" yelled Joe. "Shoot 'em quick!"

Hardly had the lad spoken when he felt one of the deer close behind him.
He leaped to one side, and the animal charged past with great vigor,
considering how badly he was wounded. But that charge was his last, for
Benson's rifle spoke up, and the animal fell lifeless where he stood.

In the meantime Darry was having his hands full with the second deer.
The youth had been unable to reload, and now he found h