"You never can tell," came the reply; "there is always a chance to sight a deer in this country. We got a number, you remember, within three miles of camp while the snow was deep on the ground. And already I have noticed signs telling that they use this section for feeding on the early shoots of grass." "Yes," added Roger, "tracks there have been in plenty. And as I live! see here, where this tuft of reddish hair has caught on a pointed piece of bark. I warrant you some buck rubbed himself against this tree good and hard. I would like to have been within gunshot of the rascal just then, for the marks are fresh, and I think they were made this very morning." This gave the two boys hope that they might at any minute run across the deer and bring him down with a lucky shot. As fresh venison was always welcome in the camp, such a possibility as this always spurred them on to do their best. They liked to hear the cheery voice of Captain Lewis telling them frankly that it had been a fortunate thing for the whole expedition when he tempted Dick and Roger to remain and see the enterprise through. "Listen! what is all that noise ahead of us?" asked Roger, as a sudden burst of snarling and half-suppressed howling was borne to their ears. "Wolves, as sure as you live!" exclaimed Dick, frowning, for if there was one animal upon which he disliked to waste any of his precious ammunition, that beast was a wolf. Ordinarily these animals are not to be feared when met singly, or even in pairs; but, during the winter and early spring, they gather in packs, in order to hunt the better for food, and at such times even the boldest hunter dislikes running across them. "They are certainly on the track of something," suggested Roger, as he listened, and then, shrugging his broad shoulders, he continued. "Like as not, it is that buck we were hoping to run across. A plague on the pests! If I had my way, and could spare the ammunition, I'd shoot every one of the lot!" "Little good that would do," Dick told him; "because they run to thousands upon thousands out on the plains and in the mountains where we are heading. A dozen or two would be no more than a grain of sand on that seashore we hope to set eyes on before snow flies again." "But listen to them carrying on, Dick," continued the other, with growing excitement. "Come to think of it, I never heard wolves make those queer sounds when chasing a deer. You know they yap like dogs, and almost bark. These beasts are acting like those creatures did when they had me caught up in a tree, with my gun on the ground." "Yes, I remember the time well enough," chuckled Dick. "You were mighty glad to see a fellow of my heft, too, when I came along. Twenty hours up a tree is no joke, when you've got a healthy appetite in the bargain. But, just as you say, Roger, there is something queer about the way they are carrying on."