noon
A motionless heap of yellowish brown lay half in half out of the fringe of trees , the shelter of which the poor creature had striven so gallantly to gain . The boys wasted no time in rejoicing but at once fell to work with their hunting-knives to remove the skin . This done , they cut off the valuable parts of the carcass and bound them up in the hide for transportation back to camp . When the task was completed the noon hour had been reached and the boys kindled a fire and broiled some of the venison . `` That was a lucky kill for us , '' observed Charley as he attacked another juicy steak . `` It will give us fresh meat for several days . What we can not use before it spoils , we can cut thin and dry .