Jerry mechanically threw out the empty shell, and pushed another into the chamber of his gun.  He saw the pack bolt forward, heard the wild clamor that marked their advance, and then caught the exultant strain in their noisy yelpings, as they pounced upon the slain deer.

The boy felt more indignant than alarmed.  That was his deer, for he had done the stalking up against the wind; nor was he at all disposed to allow those greedy curs a chance to tear the quarry to pieces in their savage way.

Jerry immediately hurried forward, ready to dispute the possession of the game.

He found the whole pack furiously tearing at the fallen deer, growling, and exhibiting all the savage nature of wolves.

When the boy shouted they looked up, drew back their lips and looked furious; but not one gave a sign of obeying him.

“Get out, you brutes!  Leave that carcass alone, will you?” he yelled, waving his gun threateningly.

As if they realized that this human creature meant to dispute their right to the royal dinner they had found, the four wild dogs started toward him.  They presented a terrible appearance just then, with the blood about their muzzles, and white fangs exposed.

Perhaps Jerry may have felt a shiver pass over him, but that did not prevent him from raising his gun and deliberately covering the foremost of the brutes.

Bang! went the gun.  Then arose a tremendous howling, together with furious snapping sounds.  The balance of the pack continued to rush forward more rapidly than before, leaving the stricken member to roll on the ground.

Jerry thought it high time he made an ascension, after the manner of that which had marked the alarm of old Toby at the time the wildcat invaded the camp.  But he wanted to use that other barrel the worst way.

Quickly covering the pack he pulled the trigger.  Then, without waiting to ascertain what the results might be, he started to climb.

This was no easy task, especially when encumbered with a gun, for he would not think of letting this precious ally go; but there was enough inspiration in the approaching yelps and growls of the wild dogs to spur him on to heroic efforts, and, as a consequence, he managed to get beyond their reach.

It was an old tree in which he happened to have sought refuge.  Just then, however, Jerry was not caring about that, for it was a case of any port in a storm; and as he said, “beggars should not be choosers.”

Quite out of breath, he clung to the rotten limb and proceeded to shout at the dogs so as to keep them there until he could find a chance to insert fresh charges in his gun, when he expected to take care of them.

“Hey, you with the collar, ain’t you ashamed of yourself to take to such a pirate life, when you once had a good home, I bet?  Say, ain’t he a jim-dandy of a big bouncer, though, and as strong as an ox?  I’d just hate to fall into his maw.  Now, hang around a few seconds more, and I’ve got a nice surprise for you.  If you ever knew what a gun is, I guess you’ve forgotten by now.”