“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.”  And his still pale face showed that he spoke the truth.

It was several minutes before Whopper felt like sitting up.  He was “all of a tremble,” as he expressed it, and standing on his feet was out of the question.

“You take it easy,” ordered Snap.  “We’ll bring the boat around to that cove below here and then carry you down.”

“Do—–­don’t leave me!” pleaded the hurt one.  “That other deer may come back!”