to creep up on the animal which they yearned to make a meal from.

Jerry mechanically threw out the empty shell, and pushed another into the
chamber of his gun. He saw the pack bolt forward, heard the wild clamor
that marked their advance, and then caught the exultant strain in their
noisy yelpings, as they pounced upon the slain deer.

The boy felt more indignant than alarmed. That was _his_ deer, for he had
done the stalking up against the wind; nor was he at all disposed to
allow those greedy curs a chance to tear the quarry to pieces in their
savage way.

Jerry immediately hurried forward, ready to dispute the possession
of the game.

He found the whole pack furiously tearing at the fallen deer, growling,
and exhibiting all the savage nature of wolves.

When the boy shouted they looked up, drew back their lips and looked
furious; but not one gave a sign of obeying him.

"Get out, you brutes! Leave that carcass alone, will you?" he yelled,
waving his gun threateningly.

As if they realized that this human creature meant to dispute their right
to the royal dinner they had found, the four wild dogs started toward
him. They presented a terrible appearance just then, with the blood about
their muzzles, and white fangs exposed.

Perhaps Jerry may have felt a shiver pass over him, but that did not
prevent him from raising his gun and deliberately covering the foremost
of the brutes.

Bang! went the gun. Then arose a tremendous howling, together with
furious snapping sounds. The balance of the pack continued to rush
forward more rapidly than before, leaving the stricken member to roll on
the ground.

Jerry thought it high time he made an ascension, after the manner of that
which had marked the alarm of old Toby at the time the wildcat invaded
the camp. But he wanted to use that other barrel the worst way.

Quickly covering the pack he pulled the trigger. Then, without waiting to
ascertain what the results might be, he started to climb.

This was no easy task, especially when encumbered with a gun, for he
would not think of letting this precious ally go; but there was enough
inspiration in the approaching yelps and growls of the wild dogs to spur
him on to heroic efforts, and, as a consequence, he managed to get beyond
their reach.

It was an old tree in which he happened to have sought refuge. Just then,
however, Jerry was not caring about that, for it was a case of any port
in a storm; and as he said, "begg