They rode on, Jack and Nat in advance. Whether their horses were better than the steeds of their companions, or whether Jack and Nat unconsciously urged them to greater speed, was not apparent, but the fact was that in about an hour the two found themselves alone, having distanced their companions.
"No, let's keep on. It's a good trail, and they can't miss it. They'll catch up to us soon. Maybe we can see something to shoot if we go on a little way, or maybe----"
"Maybe we'll see that mysterious bird," finished Nat. "I believe you'd rather find that than kill a big buck."
"Oh, I don't know," replied Jack slowly. "I'd like to get a nice buck, but I'd also like to solve that mystery."
"Speaking of bucks," whispered Nat quickly, "look there! Two of 'em!"
He pointed to a little glade, into which they were turning, and Jack saw two large mule deer feeding on the grass.
"A buck and a doe," he said as he raised his rifle. "I think we are close enough to risk a shot. You take the buck, Nat. You haven't had a good pair of horns yet, and that fellow has some beauts. We'll both fire together."
Nat nodded to show that he understood. The deer had not scented the young hunters, but were still quietly feeding. Slowly Jack and Nat raised their rifles, having dismounted from their horses.
Just as they were about to pull the triggers a curious thing happened. The deer suddenly raised their heads, and gazed at a spot to the left of them. Then they bounded away, so swiftly that it was difficult for the eye to follow them.
"Well, did you see that?" asked Nat. "Something scared them."
"Yes, and it wasn't us," said Jack. "We're out of sight, and the wind's blowing from them to us. I'm going to see what it was that sent them off."
He mounted his horse again, an example that Nat followed, and they rode down the glade to where the deer had been feeding.
"I wonder if it could have been a bear?" asked Jack of his chum. "If it was----"
He did not get a chance to finish the sentence, for even as he spoke the bushes just in front of the two lads were parted, and three men stepped into view.
"What are you lads doing here?" asked one of the strangers sternly.
"We--we were hunting," replied Jack. "We saw two deer, but they ran before we could get a shot."