y for a
supper of fresh meat."

"So am I," muttered Brick. "I hate the smell of salt pork and bacon."

The boys pushed warily ahead through the dense bushes, looking to right
and left. They kept their weapons ready for instant use.

Hamp was several yards in advance. Suddenly he stopped, and held up a
warning hand. His face was ablaze with excitement as he turned to his
companions.

"Look there!" he gasped. "How's that for luck? Don't make a sound."

The boys crept excitedly forward, and looked through the bushes which
Hamp was holding apart with one hand. Then their eyes opened wide, and
they shook with feverish ardor.

Over the top of the scrub, and less than sixty yards distant, rose the
branching antlers of a huge buck. Close by was a second buck, and the
reddish-gray flanks of several other deer were visible. As they moved
about on the snow, the rasping crunch of their hoofs could be plainly
heard.

"What a glorious sight," whispered Hamp. "It's a whole herd of deer, as
sure as anything. They're not looking this way, but it's funny they
haven't scented us. The wind is from the west, and blows straight down
the ravine."

"Let me try a shot at that big fellow?" pleaded Brick, in a tremulous
voice.

"Not for the world," whispered Jerry. "The range is too long, and we
can't crawl any closer without being discovered. There must be a salt
lick down there, and the deer are feeding. I've got a great scheme,
fellows, and if we work it properly, we're sure to make a big haul of
venison. You two go back a short distance, and climb the hill on the
left, without making a bit of noise. Follow the ridge for more than a
quarter of a mile, and then climb down to the valley again. I'll take
Brick's watch, and wait right here with the sleds. I'll give you
thirty-five minutes, and when time is up, I'll try to get a shot at one
of the deer. The minute I fire, the whole herd will dash down the
valley, and if you fellows are well posted on opposite sides, you ought
to get one a piece without any trouble."

The boys heard the plan with enthusiasm, and at once prepared to start.
Brick took out his watch, and gave it to Jerry.

"What gun do you want?" asked Hamp.

"I'll keep the shotgun," replied Jerry. "You fellows had better take
both along. You understand the plan, do you? Well, don't make any
mistake, and avoid noise. Keep up the center of the valley for a hundred
feet before you start to climb the hill. Go ahead now. I'