saw three deer walking swiftly along.
One was a beautiful doe not more than half grown.

"There is our chance!" cried Shep, excitedly. "Now then, all
together!"

Snap wanted to know what animal he was to fire at, but got no
chance to ask, for just then one of the deer raised its head and
sniffed the air suspiciously. Then the two large ones began to run
with the doe at their heels.

Crack! bang! went the rifle and shotguns, as the young hunters took
hasty aim. When the smoke cleared away they saw the doe stretched
on the ground and one of the deer limping forward painfully. The
other deer was out of sight.

"Come on---we can get that wounded one!" cried Whopper, and ran
forward with might and main.

As it happened the wounded deer was the mother of the doe, and
the wound, and the loss of its offspring, made the animal savage.
As Whopper turned towards it, the deer suddenly made for the boy.

"Look out!" yelled Snap, but before Whopper could turn aside the
deer was on him and had knocked him to the ground. Then the deer
struck out with its hoofs, landing on Whopper's shoulder and cheek.

It was a moment of extreme peril, for there could be no doubt but
that the deer meant to kill the young hunter. Shep raised his
shotgun to fire, but was afraid to do so for fear of hitting
Whopper, who was trying to rise.

"He'll be killed!" shrieked Giant, but just then Snap, using his
rifle as a club, struck the mother deer in the side. The creature
rolled over.

Bang! went Giant's shotgun, and the report of Shep's firearm followed.
The deer struggled for a moment, then gave a final kick and expired.

When the boys ran to Whopper's side they found his eyes closed. He
was breathing faintly and that was all.

"Is he---he dead?" asked Giant hoarsely, for Whopper was very dear
to the small youth.

"No, but he is badly hurt," answered Snap. "Shep, run and fill your
cap with water. I'll loosen his coat and collar."

The blood was pouring from the sharp cut in Whopper's cheek and
his coat was torn on the shoulder from the deer's hoofs. When
the water was brought, Snap bathed him tenderly, and Giant fanned
him with a cedar branch. In a few minutes he opened his eyes.

"Ta---take the de---deer away!" he murmured.

"It's all right, Whopper, the deer is dead," answered Snap.

"Oh!" Whopper breathed a sigh of relief.

"I am gl---glad of it!"

"You've had a close call of it," said Shep. "I was scared to
death."