"We ought to find a good place behind that," said Hamp.

"No doubt we shall," Jerry added.

"I hope so," declared Brick. "I'm as hungry as a bear. I haven't had such an appet.i.te since the day----"

Brick never finished. He was interrupted by a crashing noise a short distance back in the forest. The sound came rapidly nearer and louder.

The boys stopped, and looked at one another in alarm.

"It must be a deer," exclaimed Jerry, "and some animal is chasing it.

The wind is blowing this way. We may get a shot."

Crash! out from the forest burst a magnificent buck, with widely-branching antlers. He bounded down the sloping bank, and over the ice. He was panting and exhausted.

Close behind leaped a gaunt, ravenous wolf, flecked with foam and perspiration. Both animals swept out on the lake, making straight at the frightened and amazed boys.

Brick had a sudden attack of buckfever. He stood stupidly still. The others hurriedly grabbed their rifles from the sled. Jerry ran a few steps in front of his companions.

Then, for the first time, the buck saw the lads. He snorted with terror, and tried vainly to check himself on the slippery ice.

Jerry knelt and took aim. He was too excited to be cautious. He pulled trigger at a range of fifteen feet.

The ball failed to reach a mortal part. It hit the buck in the left flank, inflicting a painful wound. The huge animal's terror instantly changed to wrath. With lowered antlers, he dashed full tilt at Jerry.

The lad started to run, but his rifle caught between his legs. He sprawled headlong on the ice. He was right in front of the enraged buck. In a few seconds the cruel hoofs and sharp horns would mangle his body.

At the same instant the wolf, maddened by hunger and pa.s.sion, veered with a shrill yelp. He leaped savagely upon Hamp's breast, and bore him to the ice.

CHAPTER IV.

THE FIRST DEER.

Hamp escaped death by a display of nerve and coolness that was remarkable in one so young.

The wolf, happily, missed the lad's throat. Instead, the white teeth snapped shut on the thick, furry collar of his overcoat. For an instant they stuck there, and this gave Hamp his chance.

With one hand he grabbed the wolf's s.h.a.ggy breast, and pushed against it; with the other he reached for the long hunting-knife that dangled from his belt. He drew it from the sheath, and plunged it fiercely into the wolf's body.

Twice, thrice the keen blade cut its way deeply through flesh and skin.

A vital part was reached at last. With a gurgling cry the brute relaxed its hold, and slipped to one side.

Hamp rolled away from the quivering carca.s.s, and sprang to his feet. His clothes were thickly smeared with blood, but a scratch or two was his sole injury.

Meanwhile, Jerry had shown equal coolness in an equally trying ordeal.

It will be remembered that he stumbled right in the path of the advancing buck.

Doubling himself like a ball, he rolled several feet over the smooth ice. An instant later the spot that he had just vacated was struck by the vicious hoofs and antlers. He rolled still further, and staggered to his feet. His rifle was out of reach, and the shelter of the sh.o.r.e was equally so.

"Help! help!" he shouted. "Somebody shoot."

With the vengeful buck still at his heels, he dashed blindly toward Brick.

Then it was that the raw New York lad showed of what sterling stuff he was made.

He made a plucky dash between the two, and struck the savage animal with the stock of his rifle. The blow landed on the antlers, and its only effect was to check the buck for a few seconds. Then Brick and Jerry fled in opposite directions to get out of reach.

The consequence was that the animal now spied Hamp, and went for him with a savage snort. The lad had just put his knife away, and was still a little dazed. But he realized his peril, and knew that he had not time to pick up his rifle. At his top speed he ran blindly over the ice.

Jerry was now out of danger, and his quick wits told him the best thing to do.

"Run faster, Hamp," he cried. "Circle around, and come back this way."

Then he made for his rifle, which lay within several yards.

Hamp heard, and was cheered. By a sudden spurt he increased his speed.

He actually gained several feet on the buck. Then, not being able to see behind him, he made a natural error. Had he veered to the right, he would have circled toward Jerry, and given him a shot. Instead, he turned to the left, and bore rapidly down on Brick, who was hardly prepared for the move.

"He's gaining on me," Hamp cried. "Help! help!"

The lad's situation was truly critical. Jerry was some yards away.

Moreover, there was something wrong with the hammer of his gun. But Brick made himself ready in time. He slipped a few feet to one side, and lifted his rifle. A brief hesitation, then the trigger fell.

Bang! The shrill report echoed across the lake and through the forest.

The buck staggered. His forelegs gave way. With a gasping moan he toppled over, and his life-blood stained the ice.

No words can tell the delight of the young hunters. They cheered until they were fairly hoa.r.s.e. Hamp drew his knife, and sprang astride of the feebly-struggling animal. By a single pa.s.s he slit its throat.

Jerry slapped Brick on the back.

"That was a grand shot," he exclaimed. "I couldn't have done it better myself. It was Hamp's only chance. The hammer of my rifle was clogged with snow."

Brick was almost speechless. He looked at the buck, and then at his companions.

"Did--did I really kill him?" he gasped. "Is he dead?"

"Dead as a door nail," a.s.sured Hamp. "See, the ball went in between the foreshoulders. It must have pierced the heart. You've shot the first deer, Brick, and it's something to be proud of."

"I know it is," admitted Brick. "I wish Tom Fordham was here now. He said I'd forget how to shoot when I saw a deer."

"You didn't, though," said Hamp. "You saved my life."

"And mine," added Jerry. "It was a plucky thing to rush in between me and the buck."

"It wasn't much," Brick modestly protested. "You would have done the same for me."