Out with Gun and Camera Part 23

"Now we must take some more photos," said Shep. "We'll get Tommy to snap us holding up the deer on poles. We can label the two pictures 'Before Shooting' and 'After.'

"That's the stuff!" cried Giant slangily.

Two poles were soon cut and a deer slung on each, and while Shep and Snap raised up one, Whopper and Giant raised the other. Tommy had been instructed as to what to do, and he took a snapshot or a time picture with each camera, so that they would have plenty of films and plates, in case one or more proved failures.

"It's a bit extravagant," said the doctor's son. "But we'll not have such game pictures every day. When we simply take scenery one plate or one film will do."

"When we make camp we can hang the deer in front of the tent and get another view," said Snap.

"Yes; and get a view of our big string of fish, before we eat 'em all up," added Giant.

"Well, one thing is certain," said Whopper, after they had surveyed their prizes thoroughly; "we can't get to the Windy Mountains by to-night with such a load."

"In that case we might as well make two bites of the trip and camp here for to-night," said Shep. "I reckon this spot is as good as any.

There's a brook with good water, for the deer have been using it."

"There's another reason for going into camp," came from Snap. "Just look at the sky over to the west."

All gazed in the direction mentioned and saw heavy black clouds just showing over the treetops. The clouds advanced rapidly, soon covering the sun. Then came the rumble of distant thunder.

"A thunderstorm!" exclaimed Tommy. "I don't like them at all.

What shall we do?"

"Put up the tent as quickly as we can," ordered the doctor's son.

"That storm may last all night, and we want to keep dry if we can."

In great haste they selected some saplings and cut them down for tent poles and pegs. Then they got out the canvas and put it up, driving in the pegs that held it as deeply as possible. The tent was erected on some sloping ground, and behind it they cut a V in the soil, so that the water might run off on either side instead of across the flooring of the shelter. Then they cut some brushwood for couches and hauled it inside.

"Here comes the storm!" cried Snap presently, and scarcely had he spoken when there came a rush of wind, followed by some big drops of rain. Then came more wind, swaying the tent violently and causing the sides to bulge out like a balloon. A torrent of water followed, and all of the boys were glad enough to crawl under the tent and tie the opening in front tight shut behind them.

CHAPTER XV

IN THE MOUNTAINS AT LAST

The boys and even the dog put in a thoroughly uncomfortable night.

It thundered and lightened for two hours, and for the larger portion of the time the downpour was so heavy that it was impossible for the V-shaped trench behind the tent to carry it off. Consequently, some of the water rushed directly across the flooring of the shelter, wetting the brushwood cut for sleeping purposes. To keep their shoes and socks dry, the young hunters went barefooted. Once the wind cut loose a corner of the tent, and, despite the rain, Shep and Snap had to go out and cut longer pegs with which to fasten the ropes. They had on rubber coats, but still got a good deal of water in their faces and down their necks.

It was impossible to light a camp fire, and so they had to eat a cold supper of such things as chanced to be handy. They could not lie down, and had to sit on little stacks of the damp brushwood, with their bare feet in the water and mud.

"Say, this is dead loads of fun!" was Whopper's sarcastic comment.

"Just as funny as doing an example in algebra or writing a composition on the decay of the Roman Empire!"

"Are you dying to-----" began Giant, when a vigorous pinch on the arm from Whopper stopped him. "Wow! Let up!"

"Then you let up."

"I will."

By midnight the worst of the storm was over, but it still rained steadily, and this kept up until almost daybreak. But then the wind shifted and the clouds scattered rapidly. Utterly worn out, the boys leaned against the tent poles and caught such "cat naps" as they could.

When the young hunters finally emerged from the tent a surprise awaited them. Tommy was ahead of them, and the circus boy had cut such dry wood as he could find and started a big blaze. More than this, he had put on a kettle of water to boil.

"Good for you, Tommy!" cried the doctor's son. "We'll soon have a hot cup of coffee to cheer us, and we can dry out the tent and our clothing while we get breakfast."

"That's about the worst night I can remember," said Whopper. "My!

how it did pour at first! I thought sure we'd be washed down into some hillside torrent and into the lake."

They placed all the damp things close to the fire to dry, and put on their socks and shoes. Then Giant and Whopper, a.s.sisted by Tommy, prepared a rather elaborate breakfast of fish and venison steaks.

"We deserve a square meal," said Giant. "It will put new vigor into us." And his words proved true. By the time they had finished the repast they were ready to joke over the discomforts through which they had pa.s.sed.

"But one storm is enough," said Snap. "I trust it stays clear after this."

The woods were so wet it was decided not to travel through them until after dinner. The sun came out strongly, and in the clear sky thus presented the boys managed to get several pleasing photographs.

One was of Tommy and his dog sitting on a rock, and this was so good that, when shown later, it was very much admired. They also took a photograph of Giant and Whopper with the strings of fish.

Late that afternoon found them at the foot of the Windy Mountains.

Here they discovered a well-defined trail and also a signboard, telling them the game preserve in which Dr. Reed was interested was just beyond."

"Now we haven't much farther to go," said the doctor's son. "My father said we'd find a good camping spot less than a mile from here."

"I'm glad of it," answered Giant. "This load on my back isn't as light as it might be."

Pushing on, they soon came to where another signboard had been located; but the board had been knocked off with a stone or a hammer and was missing.

"Some hunter's meanness," was Snap's comment.

"A fellow who would destroy a signboard ought to be locked up,"

was Whopper's comment. "It's about on a par with starting a forest fire."

They trudged on, and presently came to where somebody had had a camp fire. Here were some empty tins and some well-picked bones.

Giant kicked over one of the empty tins.

"h.e.l.lo! I know who was here!" he cried. "Ham Spink and his crowd."

"How do you know?" demanded the doctor's son.

"Because I know they had some of this brand of canned goods with 'em---saw it among their supplies. It's different from the kind we have, or what you can get in the regular stores. The Spinks have their goods sent by freight from the city."

"Giant must be right," said Snap. "And look here, will you?"

As he spoke Snap pulled from the dead embers of the fire a half-burned bit of wood. It was part of a signboard.

"Humph! the signboard that was missing below here," muttered Shep.

"Ham and his crowd were too lazy to cut firewood, so they used the board. If that isn't the height of laziness and meanness!"