assistance."

"He is tired out, and I don't wonder," said Sam, stooping over and
patting the head of the hound; "he ain't used to deer hunting, and don't
know much more about it than do we."

"Then he don't know anything," was the truthful observation of Nick
Ribsam.

"It's my opinion that it's best to give up hunting that particular deer
until we learn a little more about the right way to do it."




CHAPTER XVI.

THE DINNER IN THE WOODS.


By this time it was close to the hour of noon, and the young hunters
were hungry. They had brought no lunch with them, for that would have
been an admission that they doubted their own ability to provide food
for themselves in a country abounding with game.

Nick Ribsam had a paper of salt and pepper mixed, with which to season
their dinner as soon as it should be secured.

The common red squirrels, or chickarees, were so plentiful that they
were nearly always in sight, and, without moving from where they stood,