After several more minutes, the lad hitched farther backward, so that he
was able to raise his head a few inches. This extended his field of
observation, and, with a feeling of inexpressible relief, he still
failed to catch sight of the game.

"I guess he got discouraged and left," said Nick, startled at the
evidences of the buck's wrath so near him.

Finally the lad backed clear out from under the tree, and climbed to his
feet; it was climbing in every sense, for he nearly cried with pain
several times, and, still fearful that he had been seriously injured, he
examined himself as best he could.

A few minutes convinced him that none of his bones was broken, although
he afterward declared that he suspected his head had been fractured.

He now looked about for his gun and found it within a short distance,
much scratched by the hard treatment it had received, but without any
real injury.

Throwing the weapon over his shoulder, he started in the direction of
the appointed rendezvous, and, as he did so, observed that it was
already grown dark in the woods. Night had come, and he had quite a long
distance to walk.




CHAPTER XXV.