The Young Trail Hunters

neral rejoicing among the men, who loudly applauded the determinat

a flock of wild turkeys that had been heard clucking in the pecan trees, not far

r journey; but, as the water and grass were much better where we then were than at the nex

eturn to my own camp until about five o'clock, when I learned

he supposed any accident

likely to meet with nothin' bigger 'n an antelope. They ought to be able to take

hink we ought to start at once in search of them. I feel confiden

vlin' on the plains. Howsoever, I'll hev a couple of critters ketched

a short time we struck their trail, which led through the underbrush and bottom grass, along the banks of the r

branches would not permit our riding beneath them. Securing our animals, we followed the trail on

e tracks

you must guess again.

they?" i

ou git 'em riled. I'd rather meet a dozen Comanches, as far as comfort's concarned, any time, than a dro

?" inq

ed this time, sartin; an' good enough for 'em. B

th me, and I calculate to take care

ll help you so fur's I'm able; but don't depend too much on

made by the "squealin' critters;" and we hastened in the direction of the noise, which each moment grew more distin

to a loud laugh, exclaiming, "Jest as

u know?" i

thar?" said he, pointing to a dark object in th

if I did not succeed in letting the boys know' we were near them; for the animals kept

number started towards us, at a speed that was quite as wonderful as it was alarming; for

owards us, Jer

look out;" and, without further exp

soon safely perched among the

spect of the gaunt, savage creatures. They crowded beneath the trees, with erect bristles, small, bloodshot eyes, gleaming white tusks, and frothing mouths, fi

cious than the others would bound up, until I began to think

od purpose that we killed nine with our revolvers. This wholesale slaughter seemed only to excite the fury of the others, for they

ree, I found Jerry in anything but an amiable mood, at "the idee of an old hunter like he was, bein' treed by a lot of ho

to get quite near without attracting their attention; and I asked Jerry if

went off or not was by watchin' fur the smoke: the critters kep' up such a squealin' that I couldn't hear you speak a word. I'l

ath a tree,-in the branches of which we could place ourselves if necessary,-and then opened fire upon them with our

some time before they could stand. While they were getting "the kinks out of their legs," as Jerry termed it, we counted our game and foun

and, from their story, it appeared, that, shortly after leaving camp, Ned, who was in advance, had co

r antelope or deer tracks, they followed them into the grove, where they discovered th

s other barrel at the animals, thinking they were hogs that had

them, and the whole herd rushed towards the boys, who, frightened at their formidable appeara

njoyed the situation for a time; Hal feeling confident that he coul

lled his hog; but this only seemed to make the creatures more fero

pond, declaring that no help would reach them before they should starve. Ned, however, ke

lves, furiously striking at and cutting one another with their long, sharp tusks, killing and trampling under their

from some source, were about giving up in despair, when they witnessed th

t where we had left our mules, and placed them in the saddle

be a shorter route than the way we had come. Although it was fast growing dark, we

ouple of miles from camp, my attention was suddenly arr

d you hear that? Some one'

gh to know a painter's yell when you hear it? That

stillness of the evening air: so piercing, yet so plaintive, was it, th

ll git a shot at him; though they're nasty things to hunt at n

er kill one

was down on the Sabinal, just

is time so near, that we both stopped short and cocked our rifl

s grove, with one of those creatures so near; I'd rather take to th

itters, be yer? You jest foller me; they n

may be hungry,

you jest foller me,"

like that produced by two persons rolling on the ground together. There was violent breathing, angry ejaculations, the crashing of underbrush, and, before I had time to think what it meant, I caught sig

rcely pausing to take aim or to reflect u

Jerry sprang to

The critter didn't give me no fair show; he lit right onter my shoulder here, and's tared it some I reckon, by the feel; howsoe

d in the darkness, and found that the creature's claws had entir

soon as we arrived there, I made a more thorough examination, dressed the arm carefu