CHAPTER XXII

THE FIGHT WITH THE BUCK

"Look out!"

These were the only words Henry had time to utter and as they left his lips he leaped to one side as swiftly as possible.

Hardly knowing what Henry meant, Dave and Barringford stood their ground, looking first one way and then another.

On the instant the big buck came forward. His rush was aimed at Henry, but missing that youth, he went onward with a wild plunge, directly between Dave and Barringford.

"A buck!" yelled the frontiersman. "Back out, Dave, an' be quick about it!"

He himself started on a run, reloading his rifle as he went. Dave wanted to do as bidden, but he had been so surprised that before he could turn his heel caught on a rock and down he went flat on his back. His gun struck on the trigger and went off, the charge tearing over the top of the cave into the tree branches beyond.

Dave was now helpless and if the truth must be told the fall had more than half dazed him, for his head came down on a spot that was far from soft and comfortable. More than this, with an empty gun he could do but little to defend himself.

The big buck had now come to a halt and turned around. He stood as if uncertain whether to renew the attack or take to his heels. Then he gazed at his mate and a strange red light shone in his angry eyes. He was "blood struck," as old hunters call it, and drawing in a sharp, hissing breath, he leaped forward once again, straight for Dave, who was now trying to rise.

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. Did Henry warn someone of danger?
2. Who did he warn?
3. What did Henry do after giving the warning?
4. Did other two understand him?
5. Did they stand their ground?
6. Did they look around?
7. Who appeared in the scene?
8. Who did it target?
9. Did it hit him?
10. What did it do then?
11. What it did when it stopped?
12. Was it perplexed?
13. Who did it look at?
14. Who did it target then?
15. Who asked him to be quick?
16. Was his gun out of bullet?
17. On what Dave stumble?
18. Did he fall?
19. Did he accidentally fire?
20. What caused him become dizzy?
1. yes
2. Dave and Barringford
3. leaped to one side
4. no
5. yes
6. yes
7. a big buck
8. Henry
9. no
10. he went onward with a wild plunge
11. turned around
12. yes
13. his mate
14. Dave
15. the frontiersman
16. yes
17. on a rock
18. yes
19. yes
20. the fall