Long before Dave reached his quarry he was ready for a second shot should the game require it. But when he reached the deer's side he found that the end of the animal was close at hand. Then he rejoined his chum, who was watching the other deer. "Is he dead, Roger?" he asked, quickly. "I think he is, Dave," was the answer, and Roger's tone showed his exaltation. "My! but this is luck; isn't it?" "I should say yes! Two deer at a clip!" "How about the one you hit; is it dead?" "Just about," was Dave's reply, and then he hurried over to the game, to note that it was breathing its last. "How did you make out?" The cry came from Ben, as he came running forward, followed by Luke and Shadow. "Did you hit anything?" queried the former story-teller of Oak Hall. "Did they hit anything!" yelled Luke. "Say, this is great, they got two of them!" "This is what I call wholesale hunting!" announced Ben. "You fellows certainly opened the hunting season in great shape," was Shadow's comment. "A wildcat and two deer all in one day!" The boys dragged the two deer together, and it must be confessed that Dave and Roger looked at their quarry with great pride. [Illustration: CRACK! BANG! THE TWO PIECES RANG OUT IN QUICK SUCCESSION. _Page 253._] "How are we going to get those down to the bungalows?" asked the senator's son. "I think the best thing to do will be to tie their feet together and slip each of them on a long pole," returned Dave. A small hatchet had been brought along for possible use in cutting firewood, and with this the boys cut down two long and slender saplings. Then they tied up the deer as our hero had mentioned, and a sapling was thrust between the front and hind legs of each of the game, allowing the body to hang below. "Here, Ben, you can carry the rifle," announced Dave. "I'll take one end of one load." "And I'll help carry with you," announced Luke. "I'll carry my share of the load," offered Roger, and he picked up one end of the second sapling, while Shadow took the other. Thus carrying the loads between them, and with Ben going ahead with the rifle, they continued on the return to Bear Camp. Progress with such heavy loads was necessarily slow, and several times the boys stopped to rest. It was well toward nightfall when they reached the stream flowing into Mirror Lake. Having gained the watercourse, it was an easy matter for them to continue onward until they reached the vicinity of the two bungalows. As soon as they came in sight of the camp, several set up a shout, which quickly brought Laura and Belle into view. "Home again, and with lots of good news!" cried Dave, swinging his cap. "Oh, look, they have two deer!" exclaimed the girl from the West. "Isn't that grand?" "It certainly is," returned Laura; but her voice had little of enthusiasm in it. "Where is Uncle Dunston?" cried Dave. "I want him to look at what Roger and I shot." "Your uncle has gone home," answered Belle. At the same time Laura turned away.