Dick Halliard caught the gleam of the pistol in the hands of the Bob Budd, but before he could bring it into play the younger lifted up his bicycle, ran it swiftly a few paces, sprang up behind, and set his legs to work with desperate energy.  
As he did so he remembered he was still in danger. He leaned as far ahead as he could, like a frontier trying to avoid the shots of a party of Indians. It was well he took the precaution, for Bob was so beside himself with that he the weapon at the fast-disappearing , and let fly with three as fast as he could discharge them. It was not his fault that the bullets sped wide of the mark, for he tried hard to hit the lad that had handled him so roughly.
 
Dick glanced over his shoulder, and as he caught sight of the dim figure in the moonlight he said, with a smile:
 
“Bob wouldn’t have used his pistol if he wasn’t beside himself with rage; any way, I think he and the rest of them will let me alone after this.”
 
Bob Budd stood a full minute after the bicyclist vanished in the gloom. By that time his anger gave way to a feeling of alarm, as he reflected on what he had done, or rather tried to do.
 
He had stopped Dick Halliard on the highway; he had attacked him without cause, and when he was fleeing had discharged his pistol at him, doing so with the intention of hitting him with each . If Dick chose to him, what could keep him out of State prison?
 
The thought was a startling one, and did not contribute to the Ranger’s comfort as he picked his way homeward, where, after a time, he was joined by Jim McGovern, returning from his equally marked failure to “even up” matters with Dick Halliard.
 
You may be certain that neither Bob nor Jim had anything to tell about their meeting with the young man. McGovern stated that he lost his way, and, finding the hour was so late, to put off his revenge until a more favorable time. He took care to keep the marks of Bowser’s teeth from the sight of the others, and he was therefore by no annoying questions.
 
Bob explained that he had been looking for Dick Halliard, and wondered that he did not meet him. The news given by his brother showed that the youth was elsewhere that evening, which, the added, was lucky for him.
 
When Wagstaff commented on the appearance of Bob’s face, he replied that he ran against the trunk of a tree in the woods, and then he hastened to change the conversation.
 
“To-morrow we shall have our hunt, boys,” he said, with glowing face, “and here’s success to it!”
 
The others eagerly joined in the toast, for the reason that they never refused to join in any toast presented.
 
“You think we’re going to have good weather?” remarked Tom.
 
“There’s no doubt of it. I asked old Swipes, Carter, and the prophets, and they all agree that the weather will be prime for several days to come.”
 
“If that’s to be the case, the best thing for us to do is to sleep while we can, so as to be up early in the morning.”
 
The suggestion was so wise that it was adopted without further delay.
 
The following morning was one after a hunter’s own heart. The air was crisp and cool, but not so to be , nor was it mild enough to render oppressive the slight of walking.
 
It was too early in the autumn for many of the leaves to fall from the trees, so that in most places a hunter could see but a short distance in advance when picking his way through the woods.
 
The Piketon Rangers were not accustomed to rise with the sun, and having quite late the preceding night, did not rouse themselves as early as was their intention. But their minds were so on the expected of the hunt that they willingly put the extra exertion needed.
 
They were in high spirits, for everything was , and the air produced its effect upon them.
 
“I don’t think there will be any need of our pistols,” remarked Wagstaff, doubtingly, when they were ready to start.
 
“I generally carry mine at all times,” replied Bob Budd, “but we have got to do some mountain climbing, and will be likely to find them in the way. I guess we had better leave them.”
 
This settled the question, and the three smaller weapons were hidden within the tent, in a hollow which Bob’s had fashioned, and where the valuables were not likely to be found by any prowlers in the neighborhood.
 
The rifles which Jim and Tom had brought from home were left at Bob’s house, and he furnished each with a double-barreled shot gun, as the kind of weapon most likely to be needed, though it seemed to the city youths that the others were just what was wanted in the event of meeting bears or deer. They had cause to regret their choice sooner than they anticipated.
 
Not the least enthusiastic member of the party was Bob Budd’s hound Hero, that had all a trained animal’s enjoyment of the hunt, and who received so few chances of taking part in the sport that his appetite was at the keenest point.
 
He ahead of the campers, running at his highest speed for a half-mile in sheer wantonness of spirits, then off at right angles, and finally back to his friends, as if wondering why they did not make greater haste.
 
Several times his baying roused the belief on the part of Jim and Tom that he had struck the trail of some animal, but Bob, who had been out with him before, shook his head.
 
“He lets out a cry when he takes the ; I’ll know it the minute I hear it.”
 
“But what makes him now, when there isn’t any game?” asked Jim.
 
“Because he can’t help it, just as we sing and shout when we feel happy and merry.”
 
“There he goes! That means something!” exclaimed Tom, coming to an halt to listen to the baying of the hound, a considerable distance ahead.
 
But Bob again shook his head.
 
“Wild animals aint so plenty that they can be scared up as quick as all that; we must get further up the mountain before we can look for anything worth shooting.”
 
When Bob was a small boy he had accompanied his uncle on several hunting expeditions in this part of the world, and he held a bright recollection of the occasion.
 
Many years before deer and bears had been , and he remembered that his uncle described how the hunt for a deer should be managed among the mountainous section to the rear of their camp.
 
That knowledge promised to be of great help to Bob, now that, after the of so long a time, he had started to hunt over the same ground.
 
The course of the party was , and since there were many rocks and considerable undergrowth in their way, it was not long before they felt the result of the unusual exertion.
 
“Great Cæsar!............