lowering or raising the stock or barrel so as to shift the aim, until
at last he had it elevated and pointed to suit him.

Sam watched the buck, while Nick kept his eye on the marksman, who was
holding his breath, with his finger crowding the trigger harder and
harder until the explosion came.

As before, Herbert uttered a grunt the instant the piece was discharged,
and then, hastily clambering to his feet, he put on his cap and said
with the utmost assurance:

"That bullet struck him in the chest and will be found buried in his
body."

"He doesn't know you fired at him," said Sam Harper, as the buck, a
moment later, turned about and walked out of sight.

"The deer doesn't fall at once, even if you drive the bullet through his
heart. That buck may go a hundred yards or so, but he will then drop as
if struck by lightning."

The confidence with which these words were uttered puzzled Nick and
caused him to think that possibly the boaster was right after all, and
he had made the shot he claimed.

The truth would probably be learned during the afternoon, for Nick
meant to learn it for himself.

Now that they agreed to separate, it was decided that Herbert should
keep straight along the route they had been following. Sam should