Four Boy Hunters Part 33

"Exactly so, boy, although I don't want to blow about it. Tootin'

yer own horn ain't perlite. But I ain't afraid o' what sech a feller as Andy Felps says."

That night Jack Dalton told them the story of a bear hunt, which was more than ordinarily interesting. He said that bears were by no means plentiful in the lake region and yet there were a few around, some of pretty fair size.

"You'll run across one when ye least expect it," said the old hunter. "When that happens, take your time an' shoot to kill. If ye don't, Mr. Bear may come up an' hug you to death, jess fer the fun o' it."

"I am going to set a bear trap," said one of the boys, and told of the plan, which was approved by Jack Dalton.

Before leaving the next morning the old hunter told them where he thought they could bring down a mink or two, and after his departure they set off, to see what luck they might have.

The weather was now getting colder and there was a promise of snow in the air. Yet about ten o'clock the sun broke through the clouds and then it grew a bit warmer.

"A little snow will make hunting very fine," declared Snap, as they trudged along. "As it is now, it is next to impossible to track any big game."

The spot Jack Dalton had mentioned was nearly two miles from their camp, along a rocky watercourse flowing into a small lake between Lake Cameron and Firefly Lake. Here, among the rocks, was a favorite haunt of the mountain brook mink, as they are popularly called.

As they neared the locality, the young hunters looked to their weapons and then advanced with caution. The water, gurgling over the rocks, drowned the sounds of their advance, and so they came upon the mink without being discovered.

Two of the animals were in sight, one on either side of the small stream. As all wanted the honor of bringing down the mink, Shep and Snap fired at one and Whopper and Giant at the other. The aim of the boy hunters was true, and the game dropped down where they stood.

"Fine mink these," declared Snap, after an examination. "Just look at the heavy fur."

"You are right," answered Whopper. "But the fur will he thicker yet later in the season."

With the mink in their game-bags, they pushed on up the tiny watercourse and not long after roused up some partridge, the game going up with a rush that at first scared them. But they shot as quickly as they could, and each had a partridge to his credit.

"This day is opening finely," declared Whopper. "We are bound to get about a hundred birds and animals, I'll wager."

"That's right, pile it on," answered Shep, with a grin. "I thought you had been keeping down lately."

"Oh, a hundred is nothing," said Whopper, airily. "Maybe I'll get that many myself. I once heard of a man who shot two hundred wild turkeys in a day."

"I don't call that sport," put in Giant. "I call that butchery."

"So do I," answered Snap. "Even as it is, I sometimes think we are shooting too much."

"Well, if we don't bring the game down somebody else will," said Whopper.

"Some day they'll have to pa.s.s some more laws, protecting game," was Shep's comment. "If they don't, there won't be anything to shoot inside of the next fifteen or twenty years."

"My father said that some folks were advocating a law to stop all deer-shooting for two years or longer," said Shep. "That would give them a chance to multiply."

"Well, I am going to shoot what I can---now I am out here," said Whopper.

CHAPTER XXIV

HAM SPINK AND THE SKUNK

But the boys' streak of luck came to an end as quickly as it began.

Try their best, they could locate no more large game, and had to content themselves with a squirrel and a few fair-sized birds.

"I am getting tired of this," remarked Shep, after they had tramped across several hills. "Let us call it off and get back to camp."

The others were willing, and they turned their footsteps in the direction of the cabin. Half of the distance was covered when Snap stopped his companions.

"Look over on yonder hill," he said. "Isn't that Ham Spink's crowd?"

"It is; and there is Ham in advance," answered Whopper.

"Let us go over and see what they have got," put in Giant, curiously.

The curiosity of the others was also excited, and they turned in the direction Snap had pointed out, and soon came up to one of the rival hunters.

"Hullo!" cried Snap, good-naturedly. "How are you getting along?"

The boy addressed was d.i.c.k Bush, and he answered with a scowl.

"Shot any deer lately?" asked Whopper.

"No," was the surly response.

"Got anything at all?" asked Giant.

"One rabbit. Have you anything?" went on d.i.c.k Bush, also curious.

"Oh, a few things," was Snap's careless answer, and he winked at his chums.

"We have some birds and a squirrel," said Whopper.

"Oh, we didn't shoot any birds," put in Ham Spink, coming up.

"Ain't that fine?" and he held up a medium-sized rabbit.

By this time the whole crowd had surrounded our friends. All the rival campers had were two rabbits and a small woodchuck that was of no account.

"How do you like these?" said Snap, and showed up the mink and the rest of the game.

At the sight of the game, Ham Spink's eyes opened widely, and the others from the rival camp showed their astonishment.

"Where did you get all that game?" asked the leader of the other camp.

"Shot it."

"Not to-day."

"Yes, to-day," answered Giant, proudly.