SNOWBOUND


Left to themselves, Shep and Whopper started off briskly after the
deer that had been seen from the top of the tree.

"We must get at least one of 'em by all means," said Shep. "It won't
do to go back to the camp skunked."

"We shan't be skunked," answered Whopper, confidantly. "If there are a
dozen, we'll bag the lot of them!"

The trail was by no means as easy as they had anticipated, and they
had to pick their way around the rocks and through the brushwood with
care. Once Whopper slid down one of the rocks and landed on his back
with a thump that took the wind out of him completely.

"Cats and carrots!" he gasped. "Say, but that was a hard one, right
enough!"

"Trying to split the rock?" asked Shep, helping him up.

"No, I was only testing it, to see how soft it was," growled Whopper.

Soon the two boys found themselves going up a small hill. The climb
was rather discouraging, until Whopper let out a soft cry, and then
motioned for silence.

"See 'em?" queried his chum, in a whisper.