apper.

Then Jerry, with a laugh, dangled the four tails before his
startled eyes.

CHAPTER XX

PROVING HIS CLAIM

"Jerusalem! I surely believes he's gone an' done it!" exclaimed old
Jesse Wilcox.

Frank and Will burst out into a laugh.

"Do you recognize these tails then, trapper?" asked the former; "because
we even accused Jerry of trying to palm off some substitute on us for the
originals?"

"Oh! them there is original tails all right. How did ye do it, youngster?
An' if they ever was fierce dogs, that pack filled the bill. I'd kinder
hated to be up agin 'em myself; an' you on'y a boy!"

"A boy armed with a double-barreled shotgun loaded with buck is able to
do just as much as a man, I suppose. I got my deer, too, Jesse, thanks to
the directions you gave me. It was a bully old time all around," said
Jerry, contentedly.

"Well, I should smile to mention it. Ye take the cake, Jerry. An' now ye
want me to lead ye thar, I s'pose. Can ye describe the place well enough
for me to recognize it?" asked the trapper.

"Possibly I can. Let's see, I remember that there was a queer-looking oak
standing close by--three trees in one, as though sprouts had grown up
when the parent trunk was smashed by lightning long ago. Remember having
seen anything like that in your trips through the big timber, Jesse?"
asked the other, seriously.

The trapper smiled.

"Why, it's right easy. I know that place as well as I do my own dooryard.
Shot a stag down by them three oaks myself ten years ago come Christmas.
So that's whar ye met up with the dog pack, was it? All right, if so be
ye are ready, we kin start right off," he remarked eagerly.

All of the others were equally anxious to proceed, Jerry because he
wished to prove his hunting triumphs, and his chums to see the evidence
of his valor. Will, no doubt, still hoped to induce the victor to attempt
some sort of running stunt in connection with the tree and the dead dogs,
that would form the basis of a striking picture.

Going in a bee line, as led by the sagacious trapper, who knew the
woods like a book, the little company did not spend more than an hour
on the way.

"Thar's yer three oaks, son; now tell us jest whar ye was when ye shot
that deer."

As he spoke, Jesse pointed ahead. All of them could easily see the
landmark now.

"It was an old tree, and there ought to be broken branches underneath.
Yes, if you look over yonder you'll see it. And isn't there som