The water, gurgling over
the rocks, drowned the sounds of their advance, and so they came
upon the mink without being discovered.
Two of the animals were in sight, one on either side of the small
stream. As all wanted the honor of bringing down the mink, Shep
and Snap fired at one and Whopper and Giant at the other. The
aim of the boy hunters was true, and the game dropped down where
they stood.
"Fine mink these," declared Snap, after an examination. "Just look
at the heavy fur."
"You are right," answered Whopper. "But the fur will he thicker yet
later in the season."
With the mink in their game-bags, they pushed on up the tiny
watercourse and not long after roused up some partridge, the game
going up with a rush that at first scared them. But they shot as
quickly as they could, and each had a partridge to his credit.
"This day is opening finely," declared Whopper. "We are bound to
get about a hundred birds and animals, I'll wager."
"That's right, pile it on," answered Shep, with a grin. "I thought
you had been keeping down lately.
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