Quincy Allen

“ Oh! it makes me so mad just to think one of that crowd may be handling it," cried Bluff, shaking his fist.
"I just fancy I can hear the squirrels laughing, and the little chippies singing for joy," declared Jerry. "Now they'll have a chance to live. What's hard on you, Bluff, is just happiness to them."
"You always did envy me the possession of that gun, and I know it, in spite of your sneers. You just thought I'd beat you out in making a record. Wait! I'm going to get that crackerjack gun back again, some fine day," remarked Bluff, grimly. ”

“ Think of him carrying a Gatling gun," said Jerry.
"But he has hit him more than once. Look how the brute is bleeding, and just to think, Jerry, he's got two more chances. Those pump-guns don't seem so very bad in an emergency," laughed Frank, who seemed to be enjoying the little affair very much indeed.
"There goes one more; and the bear still lives. Talk to me about that, will you, if he didn't shoot its stub of a tail off that time! What next, I wonder? Why not execute the poor beast scientifically, and not murder him by inches?" ”

“ From now on their progress would be faster, and if they wished they could leave Toby to come along with the wagon while they opened up and made a speedy run for home.
Somehow no one seemed to care about doing that. The wagon held something that had been associated in their minds with the most delightful of times, and they felt as though they ought to continue to act as a guard of honor to the slow moving team.
"Cheer up, fellows," called Frank, seeing how gloomy his chums looked; "every one of us has good reason for feeling proud and satisfied, even if our vacation has been cut short. ”

“ Anyhow, I know he shuts both eyes when he pulls the trigger, for I've watched him more than once. A man that's gun-shy never will make a success as a hunter. Isn't that so?"
"I've been told so; but, all the same, Bluff is a good-hearted chap, and I like him first rate. He furnishes fun for the whole squad; and, besides, nothing makes him mad—at least, if he ever brushes up it's over and done with like a flash. But isn't that the lumber camp ahead—I thought I had a glimpse of it through the trees—there it is again!" said Frank.
"You're right, but I don't see the wagon." ”

“ Old Toby was really too much alarmed to retire to his fly; so Frank told him he could remain with him when the other boys went to their tent.
None of them expected to obtain much sleep. The wind came in fierce gusts, the trees groaned and writhed, and once or twice Frank really heard a crash in the forest that told of a rent in the timber.
"I only hope nothing of that kind happens around here; a falling tree might pin us all under, and be our death," he said to himself. ”

“ By this time, he had gained a position where he believed he could make the buckshot in his gun tell, and with as steady a hand as he could bring to bear, Jerry took aim at the exposed side of the deer.
When he fired the animal fell in its tracks, and, giving a shout, the exultant young hunter was about rushing forward to secure his quarry when suddenly his horrified eyes discovered moving figures rushing through the undergrowth, and heading toward the spot where the deer lay, still struggling feebly.
Instantly he remembered what the trapper had said. These then were the wild dogs. ”

“ For quite some little time they watched, ready to rush forward if any sound announced that Jerry had been discovered, and was in trouble.
"They're getting supper. Don't look like our outfit, does it?" whispered Will, as he and Frank crouched there in the brush, waiting and watching.
"I should say not; still, the appetite is the main thing in the woods. A hungry man can forgive anything. Look behind the shack—isn't that something moving?"
What Frank had said was true, for just then Jerry crept across an open space, and for a few seconds they saw him plainly. ”

“ You beat all creation. I'm holding on by the skin of my teeth, and you want me to wait till you get your measly old camera adjusted, and snap me off in this ignoble position. Well, I'm waiting, but it's to get my second wind, and not to oblige a crank," gasped Jerry. ”

“ Do you really mean to say you can't find it?" questioned Frank.
"Help me look, fellows. Oh! my heart will be broken if it's true. I was just dreaming of what great things I meant to do with that splendid repeating shotgun. Please search around the camp!" pleaded Bluff.
Of course they immediately started a thorough hunt for the strangely missing weapon, even the limping Jerry seeming as deeply interested in the search as any one of his comrades.
High and low they looked, turning over all the blankets in the tents, but not a sign of the wonderful "pump-gun" could they discover. ”

“ Frank went on.
Jerry had thrown his gun down as if ready to drop over himself. He now stooped and picked it up again.
"Come on, fellows; there's only one thing for us to do," he said.
"And that's to hike over to that shanty and find out if they've got our chum there a prisoner," finished Frank.
Will made no move to leave his beloved camera behind.
"Hide it somewhere," suggested Frank; "for it will be too dark by the time we get across to their camp to take a picture decently." ”

“ I'm as snug as a bug in a rug. Four wild dogs and my first deer, all in one day. I guess that's my top-notch record, all right. Let her storm all she wants, so long as the lightning doesn't take a notion to strike this blessed old stump," he was saying as he mentally shook hands with himself over the day's achievements.
After a long time, hours it seemed to Jerry, during a temporary lull in the howling of the gale, he ventured to peep forth. ”

“ He saw Jerry eyeing the same with a sneer, and was up in arms immediately.
"Just you wait, and don't cry before you're hurt. This bang-up modern machine shooter is no more murderous for me than yours is in your hands. 'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof!' and I'm ready to compare notes at the end of our little expedition, to see who has slaughtered the most game," and Bluff wagged his round head with its thatch of yellow hair, defiantly.
"Well, a man is known by the company he keeps, and any true sportsman——" began Jerry, ready to open the discussion on the spot. ”

“ I've a notion that you may be surprised yet. I've also a hunch, my boy, that there will be another claimant for the honors of this campaign. Sometimes surprises spring out of the very earth. Watch!" said Frank, laying a hand on the gun of his dium, as though impelling him to hold his fire.
Suddenly there was a loud bang!
The bear rolled over in a heap regardless of the congregated tinware that was consequently sent scurrying to the right and to the left.
"Who fired?" shouted the amazed Jerry. ”

“ Glad to know you mean to let us alone. It's all we ask, anyway. But what brought you away up here, Andy?" said Jerry.
Andy dropped his head and gazed into the fire. The other even thought he could see what looked like a blush mantle his cheeks, though the chums of the town bully would have shouted at the very idea of such a thing.
"I reckon it was some more rotten business, Jerry. To tell the truth I was up to see old Bud Rabig, trying to get him to join us in a raid on your camp. ”

“ I'm the kind of a sportsman who goes into the woods as light as possible—give me a frying pan, coffee pot, tin cup and a pie platter, some pepper and salt, some matches, a camp hatchet to cut browse for my bed, and my trusty rifle with which to supply the game, and I warrant you I can get along as well as the fellow who makes a pack-horse of himself, and totes all sorts of canned goods over the carries. ”

“ Bluff was swinging his blanket vigorously, and thrashing the fire with it effectively; though he might later on have some difficulty in getting rid of the smudges that this process necessarily produced.
"Victory!" shouted Jerry, when the last vestige of the fire had gone under.
Bluff threw his blanket around his shoulders and strutted about with the air of a conqueror.
"They have to get up early in the morning if they expect to beat us," he said, proudly. ”

“ Don't give up so easy, Bluff. Who knows but that we may find a chance to recover the gun again, sooner or later. Live in hopes."
"It's easy for you to say that, Frank, when your gun is all safe and sound. Why, what can I do now without anything to shoot game with?"
"Well, I wouldn't worry about that. This is Kamp Kill Kare, you know. Trust us to find plenty for you to do. There'll be fish and game to clean, and dishes to wash while Toby is busy at something else. Oh! you can be useful all right, I give you my word, Bluff," said Frank, gaily. ”

“ The three chums, however, listened and exchanged looks with one another as some particularly thrilling incident came along, as though they could imagine Jerry facing that big yellow brute that chased him round and round the tree until he was dizzy enough to drop ere he remembered that he had a gun in his hand.
"I move we go out there right after lunch and get the balance of the venison. We may not have another chance to lay in a stock of fresh meat all the time we're up here," proposed Will, finally. ”

“ He imagines that Bismarck is with the old emperor, off in France on the war campaign. When he's fast asleep I'll creep into camp and get him secure. It will be easy, boys, believe me."
"Say, is he the only one loose?" asked Will, just then, his voice showing alarm.
"Why, yes, so far as I know. Why do you ask?" demanded the warden.
"Because there's some one else crawling through the bushes over yonder."
"Are you sure?" asked Mr. Smithson.
"I saw his head pop up. He's looking in at our camp. Get your gun ready, Frank. Some of these crazy people are said to be dangerous," continued Will. ”

“ Somehow Jerry seemed to lag behind the others.
"What's the matter with him?" asked Will, turning his thumb backward over his shoulder.
"Perhaps conscience is at work. Jerry has queer freaks, you know. Wait and see what develops," answered Frank, mysteriously, and, although his companion tried to get him to say more he absolutely declined.
It was a short time after this that they heard the boom of a gun.
"Hunters abroad, somewhere around. There goes a second, yes and a third. Game must be plenty where they are," remarked Will. ”

“ After an hour's walk they reached the camp of old Jesse.
"There it is, boys," said Frank, pointing ahead.
"And he's home, too; something I hardly expected at this time of day," from Jerry. "Because if he has a line of traps the morning is the time he tends them, I'm told."
As they approached, the man in the camp turned and saw them. He was a tall and angular fellow, well on in years, and with keen eyes that seemed always looking for signs around him. ”

“ Mighty little chance for anything to get away after that is leveled, and the Gatling opens fire," he remarked scornfully.
"Huh! it's all very well for you to talk that way, Jerry, because you happen to be a fine shot, and can bag your game the first clip; but what's a fellow going to do when he finds it difficult to hit a barn? I'd like to wager that with all your high-falutin' talk you do more execution among the poor game than comes to my share," answered Bluff, indignantly. ”

“ Now, what's all this row about your black box, Will?" cried Jerry, as he felt of his various joints to make sure he was all sound.
"It's been hooked while we were getting you out. That Pet Peters has made way with it Oh! if he ever tears open the package that contains my beloved films, I'm just ruined. All my work for nothing; and they can never be replaced again."
"We'll get 'em, don't you fear," exploded Andy. "I'll run back to camp right away, and make him give 'em up."
"If you only would, I'd be ever so much obliged, Andy. ”

“ Frank fairly shouted, and even Jerry grinned.
"Talk about your great detectives! Why, they ain't in the same class as our chum here. You see, fellows, truth will out. What more proof do you want?" demanded Jerry.
"Everything has been proven. You are the hero of the hunt, Jerry. I pass up my claim when you're around. And so Andy means to let us alone, does he? Can he speak for his whole crowd, too?" ”

“ The boys looked at one another in dismay, for it seemed as though some would-be joker had tossed a bucket of ice-cold water over them; this vague threat of Andy Lasher's was not to be lightly dismissed as mere bluff, for whatever his reputation might be, the fellow had a way of keeping his word, especially when it concerned any sort of mischief.
Frank, however, laughed aloud.
"That sort of talk doesn't cut any figure with ins, Lasher. If we go up to the head of the lake we'll try and mind our own business, and advise all others to do the same, if they know what's good for them. ”

“ Don't you dare propose that, or I'll forget my promise to be good, and begin to hide things again!"
"Oh! all right, I won't mention it, only it's a shame, that's what, when any fellow in these days refuses to put himself out a little just to oblige a friend, and interest posterity," grumbled Will. ”

“ He was thus enabled to catch sight of the startled wildcat bounding for the shelter of the trees, having deserted its meal in sudden fright.
As soon as he had fired, Frank threw his gun around so as to cover the spot he expected the animal to occupy if by any chance it escaped the full effect of his first charge.
But it jumped the other way, and might have vanished from view only that Jerry fired from his hip, there being no time to aim from the shoulder.
"He's down!" shouted Bluff, as the fierce visitor in the camp rolled over and over, clawing aimlessly as it expired. ”