CHAPTER XXV
NED'S RABBIT TRAP
Bart was using a new kind of powder, and there was no need to wait forthe cloud of smoke to clear away to see the result of his shot. Hebeheld, an instant after the report of his rifle, the big buck swayingunsteadily. The lad was about to fire again, but there was no need, forthe animal slowly sank to the snow-covered earth, and fell with a thud.
"Jump back, Stumpy! Jump back!" yelled Bart, fearing that the heavyanimal would crash on top of Fenn. But, though the stout lad wasincapable of leaping back, he managed to push himself out of danger,from the hold he had on the horns. Then he rolled over the snow, now redfrom the blood of the buck.
Bart rushed up, with rifle ready for another shot, but there was noneed. His one bullet had struck a vital spot, and the big animal wasbreathing his last. Then Bart turned his attention to his chum.
Fenn was lying curiously white and still upon the snow, and, as Bartlooked, he saw a stream of blood coming from under where the lad wasstretched out.
"Fenn! Stumpy! Are you hurt?" he cried, laying down his gun, andendeavoring to raise Fenn's head. As he did so he saw that the lad'swound was in his arm, where the sharp prongs of the deer had cut a gash.It was bleeding freely, and Bart knew this must be stopped.
Not in vain had he listened to his sister's almost constant talks aboutfirst aid to the injured. Bart recollected some of Alice's instructions,and, a moment later he was binding up the cut with some bandages whichhe had stuck in his pocket with the idea of using to clean his gun, butwhich now served a more useful purpose.
Bart was glad to see that, as he wound the linen rags around Fenn's arm,the flow of blood ceased. Then, rubbing the unconscious lad's face withsnow, Bart noted a wave of returning color, and, a moment later, Fennopened his eyes.
"Is anybody hurt?" he asked, slowly.
"You're the only one--except the buck," answered Bart, with a sigh ofrelief, "and you're not so badly off, I guess, that is, unless you'rewounded some other place besides the arm."
"No, I think that's all. But what happened to the buck?" and Fenn lookedaround.
"There he is," replied Bart, pointing to the dead animal. "Youcertainly had nerve to tackle him by the horns, Stumpy."
"No, I didn't," was the simple answer. "It was all I could do. It waseither that or let him gouge me, and I didn't want to do that. Did youshoot him?"
"Yes, and it was close work, too, for your head was almost in the way."
"But you did it!" exclaimed Fenn, enthusiastically. "You saved my life,Bart, and--" but Fenn could say no more. The nervous shock was too muchfor him, and he put out his hand and silently clasped that of hisfriend.
"Oh, it was easy once I made up my mind to fire," went on Bart. "I drewa bead on him, and I thought of the game laws, but I knew I wasjustified."
"It was a corking good shot," exclaimed Fenn, admiringly. "You're awonder with the rifle, Bart."
"Oh, not so much, I guess. But how about you? Can you walk?"
"Yes, I'm all right. I got scared there for a while, especially whenthat brute got his leg down inside my belt. I thought it was all up withme."
"So did I. You shouldn't have fired at him."
"I know it, but I let her go before I thought. I'm done with hunting fora while."
"Nonsense, you'll be at it again in a few days. But, if you can walk,let's get back to camp, and get the other fellows. Then we'll come afterour meat. We'll have enough venison for a month."
Fenn was rapidly recovering from the effects of his encounter with thebuck, though he was still a trifle shaky. He managed to march along,however, and it was found that the cut on his arm was his only injury,except for some bruises and a severe shaking up.
The boys managed to get the buck on some tree branches, after Fenn andBart had returned to camp, where they found Ned and Frank waiting forthem, and they dragged the carcass over the snow to the tents. There itwas cut up, and hung in trees, out of the way of foxes, or otherprowling beasts.
With enough food in camp for the rest of their stay, the four chums nowtook things a little easier, only going out for occasional game birds.Fenn's injury seemed to be healing from the effects of the medical salveput on from the box Alice had provided.
It was one afternoon, three days later, that Ned was observed to be busywith an empty box, some big rubber bands, and string.
"What are you up to now?" asked Frank.
"You'll see," was the answer. "I don't know whether it will work or not,so I'm not going to say what it is." A little later Ned started offthrough the woods, carrying his contrivance.
His chums were busy about camp, cleaning their guns, bringing in wood orwater, and "slicking up" generally, and so paid little attention to Ned.It wasn't until half an hour afterward that, hearing startled cries inthe woods, from the direction of a little clearing where rabbits werenumerous, that Bart exclaimed:
"Something's happened to Ned! Hurry up!"
They ran to the place, and saw a curious sight. Ned was lying on thesnow-covered ground, his hands stretched toward a sapling while his feetseemed encased in the box at which he had been working a short timeprevious.
"What's the matter?" panted Bart.
"Get me loose first, and I'll tell you," cried Ned.
"Are you fast?" asked Frank.
"Fast? Of course I am! Can't you see for yourself. I'm caught by myhands and feet in some rabbit traps I was setting."
"Serves you right," commented Bart, trying not to laugh. "You ought tobe a sportsman, and shoot your game."
"I didn't want to shoot 'em," explained Ned. "I wanted to catch 'emalive and tame 'em. Hurry up and get me out; will you, fellows?"
They soon released him. His feet were caught under a box, which wasweighted down with rocks, while his hands were held in a slip-noose ofheavy cord that was fast to the tree, which had been bent over to act asa spring. Ned was stretched out like a prisoner "pegged-out" in thearmy. He was soon released, and explained that as he was setting thenoose trap, his feet had unexpectedly gotten under the box trap, whichwas sprung, and then the noose slipped, holding him fast at both ends.