All took aim with care, resting their gun-barrels on the bushes before them. Then the cowboy gave the order to fire.
As if by instinct the deer looked up just as the order to fire was given. They were fairly close to hand and afforded good targets for the hunters. The firearms rang out almost simultaneously, and two of the deer leaped into the air, to fall back dead. The others started to run, some jumping from the top of the cliff to the rocks far below. Again the weapons were discharged, and this time a third deer fell. The fourth was badly wounded and toppled down in a split of the cliff.
"Hurrah! we've got 'em! We've got 'em!" cried Phil, and commenced to leap about in pure joy.
"We've got 'em--to get!" answered Sid Todd. "But you did well--all of you!" he added, admiringly.
"How are we to get down to the cliff?" questioned Roger, anxiously.
"The deer got down--we had better follow their trail," answered Dave.
They made an examination, and presently found a run leading to one end of the cliff. The walking was dangerous and they had to be careful, for fear of going further than intended. But inside of a quarter of an hour all were standing where the deer had stood. They found three of the game dead and quickly put the fourth out of its misery.
"This is worth coming for," declared Dave, with pride.
"It is indeed--even if we don't get anything else," added Phil.
"But we are going to get more," cried Roger, the fever of the hunter taking possession of him. "Just wait till we strike an elk, or a bear!"
"No more hunting this day," sang out Todd. "Time we take care of these animals and make a camp it will be dark."
"What are we to do with so much venison?" questioned the senator's son. "We can't eat it, and it seems a shame to allow it to go to waste."
"I wish we could send some to the ranch," said Dave. "I'd like the girls to know how lucky we have been the first day out."
"If you wanted to stay here and camp for a day, I could take some of the game to the ranch," said Sid Todd.
"But it is such a ride," argued Phil. "We don't want to impose on good nature."
"I won't mind the ride. But can you boys take care of yourselves while I am gone?"
"Then I'll take three of the deer with me and come back as soon as I can. One deer will be all you will need," answered Sid Todd.