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 asserted
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