Young Hunters of the Lake | Page 5

with these. Perhaps we'll drop half of them, trying to
swim."
"Hi, look there!" shouted his companion, and pointed across the field in
the direction of the river.
A flock of sheep had suddenly appeared, some fifteen or twenty in
number. At the head was a large ram, who gazed in wonder at the two
boys in their bathing outfits.

"Say, that ram means business!" ejaculated Snap, an instant later. "We
had better clear out of here."
"Come on, I'm willing," responded the doctor's son, and started for the
stream, carrying the basket of strawberries in one hand.
"Let us go up the stream," went on Snap. "No use of getting too close
to him. I don't like his looks."
Both boys had good cause to feel alarmed, for the ram was coming
toward them on a trot. Once or twice he stopped and pawed the ground,
but then he came on, and they could see he meant to attack them.
"He's coming for us!"
"Can we reach the river!"
"We must reach it!"
Then the two boys broke into a run, giving no further heed to the fact
that the ground was uneven and that their feet were bare. They had
heard stories of vicious rams many times, and knew that only the year
before a girl had been almost mauled to death by such an animal.
They had still fifty yards to cover when Snap went into a hole and
pitched headlong. Shep was directly behind him, and over he went on
top of his chum, crushing one of the baskets of strawberries between
them. The other basket was scattered in all directions over the ground.
"There go our berries," grumbled Snap. "Too bad!"
"Get up!" roared Shep, scrambling to his feet. "Here comes the ram,
and he's as wild as they make 'em!"
He caught his chum by the arm, and both tried to go on. But Snap's
ankle had received a bad wrench and he was forced to limp.
The boys had to pass a low shed, used occasionally for the storage of
fruit and baskets. As they reached this the ram came up and lowered his

head.
"Jump for the shed!" yelled Shep, and caught hold of the roof of the
structure. He scrambled to the top and gave his chum a hand. Then on
came the ram and hit the side of the frail building a resounding whack
with his head. Snap escaped by less than a foot; and then both boys
stood upright on the top of the shed wondering what they had best do
next.

CHAPTER III
A TRICK THAT FAILED
"We are in a pickle, Snap."
"It certainly looks like it, Shep."
"How long do you suppose that ram is going to keep us here?"
"I don't know---maybe you'd better ask him."
"I wouldn't feel quite so bad if I had on my, regular clothing and my
shoes. But with this thin outfit---"
"Here he comes again!" was the cry, and crash! the head of the ram
struck the shed once more, causing it to tremble greatly.
"I really think he's trying to knock the old thing down!" was the
comment of the doctor's son.
The boys tried to look across the river, but could not because of a heavy
clump of bushes growing between the shed and the water's edge. They
heard a distant cry and wondered what it meant.
"I believe that is Giant and Whopper calling," said Snap.
"More than likely they are tired of waiting for us. Maybe they are

dressing."
A few of the sheep had come up and were gazing curiously at the boys
and the ram. Then the ram commenced to walk around the shed,
viewing it speculatively from all sides.
"Looks like a warrior, doesn't he?" said Shep. "Wish I had a brickbat to
throw at him."
"Here's a short board!" cried Snap, and tore off a piece that was partly
loose. "I wish I could reach him with this."
"Wait, I'll coax him over," answered the doctor's son, and put down a
leg over the edge of the roof. At once the ram charged, and as he did
this Snap threw the board at him, hitting him in the side. This so
surprised the animal that he turned and ran away a distance of several
rods.
"Now is our chance! Come!" yelled Snap, and leaped from the roof of
the shed on the river side. His chum followed, and once again the pair
put for the stream with all speed. They kept out of sight of the ram as
much as possible and he did not see them until they were almost at the
water's edge. Before he could come up they dove into the stream and
swam out several yards.
"Say, that's what