"Give it the other barrel, Roger!" yelled Dave, as he ran forward.
There was no need of this advice, for while Dave was yet speaking the second barrel of the shotgun was discharged at the flying deer. Roger's aim this time proved to be better than before, and plunging forward, the deer ran full tilt into a tree and then pitched over on its side, where it soon breathed its last.
Long before Dave reached his quarry he was ready for a second shot should the game require it. But when he reached the deer's side he found that the end of the animal was close at hand. Then he rejoined his chum, who was watching the other deer.
"I think he is, Dave," was the answer, and Roger's tone showed his exaltation. "My! but this is luck; isn't it?"
"Just about," was Dave's reply, and then he hurried over to the game, to note that it was breathing its last.
"How did you make out?" The cry came from Ben, as he came running forward, followed by Luke and Shadow.
"Did you hit anything?" queried the former story-teller of Oak Hall.
"Did they hit anything!" yelled Luke. "Say, this is great, they got two of them!"
"This is what I call wholesale hunting!" announced Ben.
"You fellows certainly opened the hunting season in great shape," was Shadow's comment. "A wildcat and two deer all in one day!"
The boys dragged the two deer together, and it must be confessed that Dave and Roger looked at their quarry with great pride.
[Illustration: CRACK! BANG! THE TWO PIECES RANG OUT IN QUICK SUCCESSION. _Page 253._]
"How are we going to get those down to the bungalows?" asked the senator's son.
"I think the best thing to do will be to tie their feet together and slip each of them on a long pole," returned Dave.
A small hatchet had been brought along for possible use in cutting firewood, and with this the boys cut down two long and slender saplings. Then they tied up the deer as our hero had mentioned, and a sapling was thrust between the front and hind legs of each of the game, allowing the body to hang below.
"Here, Ben, you can carry the rifle," announced Dave. "I'll take one end of one load."
"And I'll help carry with you," announced Luke.
"I'll carry my share of the load," offered Roger, and he picked up one end of the second sapling, while Shadow took the other. Thus carrying the loads between them, and with Ben going ahead with the rifle, they continued on the return to Bear Camp.