Such were the exclamations uttered. And there was good cause for their consternation and dismay. Instead of the tidy cabin they had expected to see, nothing but a heap of blackened logs confronted them.
The log cabin had been burnt to the ground.
CHAPTER VII
A DISMAYING DISCOVERY
The hearts of the four young hunters went "down in their boots" as they surveyed the desolate scene before them.
They had spent much hard labor over the cabin which had been their home during a large part of the summer outing, and they had fully expected to find it in the same condition as when they had locked it up and come away.
"Boys, what can this mean?" said Snap at last. "Who has played us this shabby trick?"
"Can the cabin have burnt down right after we left it?" asked Giant.
"Why, no, it has been burnt down since the last snowstorm," answered
Shep, "otherwise the snow would cover the ruins."
"This fire isn't over three or four days old," came from Whopper.
"Do you think it could start up of itself?" asked the small member of the Gun Club.
"No, I don't."
"Then somebody must have set it on fire."
"Yes."
"Who?"
"That remains to be found out," said Snap. "Oh, I wish I had the fellow here now," and he banged a fist into the palm of his hand, to show what he would do in such a case.
The boys walked around the ruin several times and lifted up a few of the half-burnt logs. It was easy to see that the cabin was a total wreck. Snap heaved a mountainous sigh and so did the others.
"We'll have to clear all this stuff away and build a brand new cabin," said Shep. "All these old logs are good for is firewood."
"That is true, Shep," answered Snap. "What I am thinking of is, what are we to do to-night? We can't stay out in the open air. It is growing colder every minute."
"Well, I am not going home," came quickly from Giant. "I'd rather freeze!"
"Who said anything about going home?" demanded Whopper. "Why, I wouldn't go home in a thousand years, cabin or no cabin. We can rig up some sort of shelter of pine boughs and then build another cabin."
"I know a dandy spot for another cabin," said Snap. "Don't you remember I mentioned it to you, Shep, last summer? The spot where the young trees stood so close together in a circle?"
"Just the place," answered the doctor's son.
Standing around was cold work and the young hunters lost no time in cutting some dry brushwood and building a fire, on which they placed several of the half-burnt logs. It was now the middle of the afternoon and they knew they must work vigorously if they wanted any sort of a suitable shelter against the cold before nightfall.
The spot Snap had mentioned was less than two hundred feet up the lake front. Here, behind some bushes which would keep off considerable wind, was an almost perfect circle of trees, the diameter inside being about fifteen feet. The trees were mostly young and not very tall and the lower branches were not over ten feet from the ground on an average.
"We can cut off the tops of the trees and then bind in some of the branches for a roof," said Snap. "Over those branches we can bind others, with strips of bark between. We can cut the trees higher on one side of the circle than on the other, so the snow and rain can run off. Then we can bind in brushwood and bark for the sides, between the trees, leaving one spot open for a rough sort of chimney, which we'll have to build up of flat rocks. It won't make as nice a cabin as the other was, but it is the best we can do in this wintry weather, and I think, with a good fire going, we can make it fairly comfortable inside."
There were a great many things to take into consideration, but in the main Snap's idea was voted a good one, and the sleds were brought to the spot and the axe and hatchet gotten.
"Giant, you bring up that camp-fire," said Snap. "We'll want it here later. Bring all those half-burnt logs, too, so that we'll have plenty of firewood."
"Aye, aye, Captain!" answered the little lad, in true nautical style and touching his cap.
While Giant re-built the camp-fire the others set to work on the new cabin. First Snap and Shep, went up in the trees and marked off the top of the new shelter. Then down came one tree top after another and then the limbs that could not be used above. In the meantime Whopper took a hunting knife and cut some strips of bark.
"Now let us begin to bind in the branches," said Snap, and he and Shep set to work, with Whopper helping them. Giant passed up some branches which had fallen to the ground, and also some long, pliable withes to be used as rope. Fortunately some of the branches left on the trees were long and supple and could be twisted around one another with ease.
"We are going to have a regular mat of a roof," observed Whopper. "Why can't we pile a lot of dead leaves on top, to make it air tight?"
"Because they might possibly shake down and catch fire," answered Snap. "We can bind in some more brushwood and some more bark. Then the next snow will do the rest."
At last the roof was finished and the workers dropped to the ground.
It was now night and all were tremendously hungry.
"We'll have to let the sides of the shelter go until morning," said Snap. "We can pile up some tree branches on the windy side and put the rubber blankets over them. Then, during the night, we can build a fire right in the middle of the hut. But we'll have to take turns at guarding, to prevent the place from catching fire and to prevent those sleeping from smothering, if the wind should change."
While Snap and Shep continued to work on the shelter, Whopper and Giant started to cook the evening meal, which consisted of a broiled chicken, a loaf of bread they had brought along, and a slice of cake, washed down with hot chocolate. They spent an hour over the meal, and in the meantime discussed their future plans and the burnt cabin.
"Do you know I have an idea that the same person who burnt down our cabin wrecked the old boathouse," said Snap.
"I was figuring it that way, too," answered Whopper. "The question is,
Who would be so mean!"
"Perhaps it was Carl Dudder," answered Giant.
"Or Ham Spink," came from Shep.
"It was certainly done by an enemy," said Snap. "But I shouldn't dare to accuse anybody unless I was certain."
"You are right there," answered the doctor's son. "Burning a building is a serious piece of business."
"Yes, and blowing up a place with dynamite is serious, too," added
Whopper. "Why, it's a wonder the whole town didn't sail skyward!"
The floor of the shelter had been cleaned up and on one side were placed several piles of fresh pine boughs, which in camping out make the best kind of a couch. Then the fire was brought in and placed where the smoke could drift out between the trees. The blaze soon warmed the place up, and the ruddy glare made the boys feel quite at home.
To keep out still more of the cold the two sleds were stood up between some of the trees and the canvas coverings and rubber blankets were stretched around as far as they would go. By that time all of the boys were worn out with their labors and their journey and glad enough to retire.
"Each member of this club will have to remain on guard two hours," said Snap. "We'll draw lots for turns."
This was done, and it fell to Whopper to take the first turn, from nine o'clock to eleven. Giant was to follow him, and then Snap and Sheep.
"Just my luck!" grumbled Whopper. "And when I am so sleepy I can scarcely keep my eyes open."
"Well, don't you go to sleep until your two hours is up," said Snap sharply. "Keep an eye on the fire, and don't wake Giant up until his turn comes."
"I am going to fix up a pot of beans to cook," answered Whopper. "That will help to keep me awake."
Leaving Whopper fussing with the bean pot, the others turned into their blankets and threw themselves on their pine bough couches. Inside of five minutes Shep was asleep and Snap and the small member of the Gun Club quickly followed.
Whopper filled the pot half full of bean, soaked them a little in ice water, and then hung them over the fire to bake, putting some bacon with them, to give the proper flavor. Then he brought in some extra sticks and sat down. He was indeed sleepy and it was all he could do to keep his eyes open.
"Guess I had better walk around," he told himself, and not to disturb the sleepers, passed through one of the openings between the trees to the outside of the shelter.
It was a moonlight night, and he could see across the lake with ease. All was quiet saving for the distant hoot of an owl and the occasional bark of a fox. The wind had gone down and not a tree branch was stirring.
"What a glorious night for skating," mused the boy. "There must be a good many out at Fairview, now that the ice is so solid."
He walked around the shelter four times and then came to a halt once more in front of the lake.
As he did this, he saw some object move across the ice of the lake.
One object was followed by another, and then a third and a fourth.
"Animals of some kind," he thought. "But what?"
He watched the objects for several minutes.
They kept coming closer slowly, stopping every now and then, as if to deliberate. Then of a sudden, a lonely, mournful howl rent the air.
"Wolves!" he muttered. "They have discovered our camp and are coming towards it. I wonder what I had better do?"
CHAPTER VIII
THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP
Whopper was not much frightened. He had met wolves before and he did not think that the pack on the ice would dare to attack him and his friends. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he watched the beasts closely, and when they came still nearer he rushed into the shelter and grabbed up his shotgun.
"What's the row?" asked Shep sleepily, disturbed by the unusual bustle.
"Four wolves are on the ice in front of the shelter," explained
Whopper. "Reckon I'll give them a shot."
"I'll go along," and the doctor's son sprang up and reached for his own firearm.
When Whopper got outside again, followed by Shep, he saw the wolves had approached still closer. There were now seven of them, and they stood in a semi-circle, sniffing the air suspiciously. The man-smell was strong, and this they did not like, for to them it betokened only danger. Yet mingled with the man-smell was the smell of chicken and rabbit meat, and this pleased them, for they were hungry.
"Let us both fire together," suggested Shep. "Each of us ought to bring down at least one. You can fire to the right and I'll fire to the left of the line."
"All right."
They took careful aim, and at the word from Whopper each pulled the trigger of his shotgun.
Bang! Bang!
The two guns spoke up in rapid succession, and as the smoke cleared away it was seen that two of the wolves lay on the ice, twisting and turning in their death agonies. The others were scuttling away, one limping painfully.
"Hullo, what's up?" came from Snap, as he rushed from the shelter, followed by Giant. "What are you firing at?"
"We just brought down a couple of wolves," answered Whopper, with considerable satisfaction in his tone.
"Wolves!" ejaculated Giant. "I didn't think they'd find us as early as this."
Taking a brand from the fire, Whopper led the party out on the ice to where the two wolves lay. One was already dead and the other quickly breathed its last. They were large and gaunt looking creatures, with cruel teeth, and Shep shivered as he looked them over.
"I am glad they didn't get into the shelter," he observed. "If they had, we should have had the fight of our lives."
"I doubt if they would have attacked us," answered Snap. "They were after those rabbits and that chicken. They must have followed the sled trail from Lake Cameron."
As the young hunters did not want the wolves, they were left where they had fallen. The other beasts did not show themselves again.
The remainder of the night passed without anything unusual happening. Once the wind veered around a little, threatening to suffocate them with smoke from the camp-fire, but by the time they prepared to vacate the shelter the wind veered back to where it had first come from and gave them no more trouble.
"I saw a beautiful owl," said Giant, when they were preparing breakfast. "I'd like to get him and have him stuffed."
"To eat, I presume," said Whopper, innocently.
"Eat? What do you take me for!" cried the smaller member of the Gun Club, and picking up a chunk of snow he shied it at Whopper, taking the latter in the ear.
Whopper could not stand that and threw some snow in return. Then ensued a regular snowball fight all around, which came to a sudden termination when Shep hit the coffee pot and spilled half of the hot beverage in the snow.
"Hi! that's going too far!" cried Snap. "Don't waste good coffee like that!"
"I move we fine Shep one cent for a bad throw," murmured Giant.
"He can make another pot of coffee, that's what he can do," grumbled
Whopper.
"All right, I will, but no more snowballing for the present," answered
Shep, and set to work without delay.
For breakfast they had some chicken, some bread and butter and hot coffee. The bread was pretty dry, but nobody minded it, for hunger and a clear, cold atmosphere are wonderful appetite builders.
"The first thing to do to-day is to finish building our shelter," said
Snap.
"Oh, gosh! can't we go hunting?" demanded Whopper, who was itching to get out after big game.
"He wants to bring in a few of those bears he has been talking about," said Giant, with a wink of his eye.
"No hunting until the shelter is good enough to use in all kinds of weather," answered Snap.
The bracing air kept the boys moving lively, and directly after breakfast they set to work in earnest. A large quantity of tree branches were cut down, and with these they made the sides and top of the hut or cabin as tight as possible. Around the bottom of the shelter they heaped up all the snow that was close at hand.
The building of the chimney bothered them a great deal. Fortunately they found some stones which were fairly flat, and these they managed to pile up into something of a square, with an opening in the center and another at the bottom, next to the shelter. On the outside they heaped up some dirt and above this plastered the cracks with mud. When tried, the chimney drew very well, and there seemed to be little danger of it setting fire to the shelter proper.
"We ought to have a name for this camp," observed Snap. "Every really first-class camp has a name."
"This is such a very high-toned camp let us call it Hotel
Millionaire," suggested Giant.
"The Lakehouse," came from Whopper.
"I've got something better than that," said Shep. "Half of these trees are birch trees, and we used birch bark on the roof. What's the matter with calling the place Birch Tree Inn?"
"That's all right!" cried Snap. "Hurrah for Birch Tree Inn!"
"Good enough," assented Whopper. "Let's run up a napkin for a flag, for here is where we feed."
"Not much!" came from Giant. "What's the matter with this?" And from an inner pocket he produced a small silken flag. "I brought this along for our camp."
"Hurrah for the stars and stripes!" came from Snap. "We'll raise the flag by all means."
This was an easy matter, for directly in front of the camp, on the lake front, grew a tall and slender sapling. From this they cut the extreme top and the branches, and then ran up a thin rope, to which they attached the flag. Floating in the breeze it looked very pretty, and taking off their caps, the members of the Gun Club saluted the national emblem. Then Whopper and Shep began to whistle the Star Spangled Banner and the others joined in.
The making ready of the camp had taken longer than they had expected, and it was nightfall before they had everything as they wished it. In addition to making the shelter weather tight and warm, they had cut a good sized pile of wood for the fire. All were tired out, and Shep admitted that his back felt pretty stiff and lame.
"I don't think we'd want to work so hard around home," said Giant frankly, and the others admitted that this was so.
They were too tired to do more than prepare an ordinary supper, but this included the beans previously put in soak and then baked and these went very well. Then they brought in some wood, and closed up the doorway of the Inn.
"No need to remain on guard," said Snap. "The fire and the sides of this shelter will keep away all wild animals."
"That's true."
During the afternoon it had begun to snow again, and this made it all the more cozy in the shelter. After supper the boys piled wood on the fire and lounged around, telling stories and talking over the prospects of getting game. All were enthusiastic, and determined not to return home until they had brought down "something worth while," as Snap expressed it.
When the lads came out in the morning, they found that the snowstorm had cleared away completely. The air was clear and cold, with scarcely any wind.
Whopper could hardly wait to get his breakfast, so anxious was he to go after game. Giant suggested that they go on their snowshoes, but Snap demurred.
"Not the right kind of snow yet," he said. "Let us skirt the lake this morning and see what we can pick up near camp."
Before they left the Inn they saw to it that every spark of the fire was extinguished, for the dreadful conflagration of the summer season had taught them a useful lesson. They also placed their matches in a tin can, so that they might remain dry and also to keep them from being lit by some prowling wild beast.
"I once heard of a place being burnt down by a fox," said Giant. "The animal knocked the match box from a shelf on which some rabbits were hanging."
"Well, I've often heard of rats setting fire to buildings by igniting matches," answered Snap.
"Millions of times," came from Whopper. "Rats sometimes do that for a regular business. They make a deal with people who want to get a fat insurance; you know, and then—Oh!" And the remarkable story came to a sudden end as Shep shied a snowball at the youth who loved to exaggerate.
They were soon on the way, Snap, Shep and Giant with their shotguns and Whopper with the rifle. They headed directly along the shore of Firefly Lake, intending to make the complete circuit of that sheet of ice.
They had proceeded only a short distance when Snap held up his hand.
"Rabbits," he whispered. "We are in luck!"
"Humph! I wanted to see a bear," grunted Whopper.
"Now, dolt you spoil this for us," remonstrated Snap.
"Let us fire together," whispered Giant. "I see at least a dozen."
The bunch of rabbits were close to the lake front, nibbling the bark from some young shoots growing in that vicinity. Without delay Snap, Shep and Giant brought their shotguns around in position to fire.
"I'll give the signal," said Shep. "Shep, you fire to the left. I can fire to the right, and Giant can blaze away at the middle of the bunch."
"There they go!" screamed Whopper just then, and he spoke the truth, the rabbits had discovered the hunters and were making mighty bounds to gain the thickets beyond lake shore.
All the boys with shotguns blazed away, and four of the rabbits dropped in their tracks. Another went limping along painfully and Snap caught it with case. But there was no time for a second shot.
"Well, that's not so bad, for a start," observed Giant, as they took up their game.
"If I hadn't yelled you'd have lost the bunch," said Whopper. "Why, I was most tempted to bring one down with the rifle."
CHAPTER IX
INTO A HOLE AND OUT
Inside of an hour the young hunters had passed to the extreme end of the lake and were coning down on the other side.
"Here is where the Ham Spink crowd stole our boat," said Snap, indicating the spot.
"Phew! and what a time we did have on the lake afterwards," was Whopper's comment. "Say, I can't understand yet why some of us weren't drowned."
"Don't make so much noise," said Shep. "We'll never get any game if you keep on talking."
After that they went on a distance of a hundred yards in perfect silence. Then Giant came to a halt, and pointed up two trees in front of him. On the branches were half a dozen fat, gray squirrels.
Again those carrying shotguns discharged their fowling pieces, and down came three of the largest of the squirrels. Then Snap let Whopper have his gun and down came another squirrel just as he was about to enter his hole.
"Squirrels and more!" shouted Giant, rushing forward.
"More?" queried Shep. "We shot only the squirrels."
"True, but you've forgotten what the squirrels hide away."
"Nuts!" exclaimed Whopper. "Just what we want, to eat in front of the camp-fire at night."
It was an easy matter to locate the storehouses of the squirrels, and from each they took a quantity of nuts. They did not take all, for they did not wish the squirrels that were still alive to starve.
"I guess we have got all the game we'll find around here," observed Shep, as they went on once more. "The banging away will make the rest of the game keep under cover."
"Well, let us go around the lake anyway," answered Snap. "There is no fun in crossing over on the ice without skates."
Down at the lower end the lake made several turns, winding in and out among the rocks, and here the boys left the ice and walked under the trees and between the bushes.
"This isn't so pleasant," said Whopper, as he stumbled on a rock and rolled over on his side.
"Look out, that your gun doesn't go off!" cried Snap, warningly. "Keep the muzzle pointed at the ground.'
"That's what I always do," answered Whopper.
They had almost reached the end of the lake, at the point where it emptied through the rocky gorge into Lake Cameron, when Giant came to a sudden halt and uttered a low whistle.
"What is it?" questioned Snap and Whopper in a breath.
"Saw something through yonder trees—something big," was the answer of the small member of the Gun Club.
"You did?" said Snap. "What did it look like?"
"Looked like a cow—but of course it couldn't be that.'
"Maybe it's was a moose!" cried Shep. "Let's go after him."
The thought that a moose might be so close at hand thrilled all the boys, and without a moment's hesitation they started off in the direction in which the strange animal had been seen.
"If it is a moose let me take a rifle shot at him," whispered Whopper.
"A bullet is what he'll want to lay him low."
"I'm willing you should have the first shot," said Snap.
The others also agreed that Whopper should be the first to fire—if the game was really as large as expected—and the boy who loved to exaggerate went to the front.
They had to climb a small hill, which came to an abrupt end beside another gully. Here the bushes had been bent low by the wind and were covered with drifted snow.
"Be careful—walking isn't very good here," cautioned Whopper. "The ground seems to be spongy."
All ranged up to the edge of the gully and prepared to leap across. As they did this, some of the bushes and the snow gave way, and down they went in a heap, a distance of ten or a dozen feet. As they fell Giant's shotgun went off with a bang that scared them greatly.
"Oh, dear!" gasped Snap, when he could free himself from the snow.
"What a tumble? Is anybody hurt?"
He gazed around, to find Whopper head first in a snow drift. He pulled his chum out, and in the meantime Shep and Giant scrambled up.
"Did—did my shot hit anybody?" questioned the smaller member of the club, anxiously.
"I'm safe," announced Snap.
"So am I," came from Whopper. "But say, I thought I was going to plow through the snow clear to China!"
"The discharge went pretty close to my ear," announced Shep. And then, as he began to realize the escape he had had, he grew slightly pale.
"I tried to keep the gun barrel pointed to a safe place," said Giant. "But the fall came so quickly I had hardly time to think. I am thankful nobody was struck. Had I hit anybody I should never have forgiven myself!" And he shuddered.
"Be careful of the rest of the guns," said Whopper. "We don't want to be blown out of this hole—we prefer to climb out—at least I do."
They looked to their firearms, and then gazed around the locality in perplexity. The gully was long and narrow and both sides were covered with ice and snow. The ground above, also covered with ice and snow, was well out of their reach.
"Getting out is going to be no easy task," announced Snap. "Maybe we'll have to, walk to the end of the gulch."
"Wait, perhaps I can climb out—if one of you will give me a boost," said the doctor's son.
The others were willing to have Shep make the trial, and Snap and Whopper put down their guns and aided him by putting his feet in their hands. Shep caught hold of some bushes and began to haul himself up with all his strength.
"Hurrah! he is going to make it!" cried Giant, when snap! went the bushes, and down rolled the doctor's son and plunged once more into the snow.
"Whow!" he spluttered, as he arose and worked the snow from his collar and his coat sleeves. "No more of that for me! Snap, don't you want to try it?"
"No, I prefer to walk to where the gully is not so deep."
They struck out, to find the bottom of the gulch filled with bowlders, bushes and snow. More than once one or another went down into a hollow and had to be hauled out.
"Phew! but it's cold down here!" murmured Whopper. "My feet feel like two cakes of ice."
"One of the delights of hunting in the winter time," observed Snap.
"Want to go home, Whopper?"
"Not for a million dollars and a mince pie thrown in," was the prompt answer.
"Say, a piece of mince pie wouldn't go bad just now." said Shep, smacking his lips.
"Don't mention it, please."
It took a quarter of an hour's hard journeying to reach a point where the gully was only four or five feet deep, and here they left the hollow with ease. They were now further away from the lake than ever and in a locality that looked new to them.
"I don't remember this spot, although I thought we were all over this ground last summer," observed Snap.
"A place looks different in winter from what it does in summer," said
Shep.
"Then that must be it."
"I reckon that moose must be 'steen miles from here by this time," said Whopper. "He must have heard Giant's gun go off."
As they could see nothing of the strange game, they agreed that Whopper must be right in his surmise and so determined to look around for other game. They circled the end of Firefly Lake, and then walked a short distance in the direction of Lake Cameron.
"Wait!" called out Whopper, presently, "Snap, let me have your shotgun." And he reached for the weapon.
"What do you see?"
"A wild turkey, and a big one, too."
Snap was willing that Whopper should have a try at the turkey, since he seemed so disappointed at losing track of the big game, and so passed over his shotgun. The wild turkey was roosting near the top of a silver maple tree. Taking careful aim, Whopper blazed away.
To the astonishment of all, the wild turkey gave a flutter, sank back on the tree limb and then became quiet.
"What in the world does that mean?" gasped Whopper, hardly believing that he saw aright.
"Maybe you didn't hit him," suggested Giant.
"Didn't hit him—at such a short distance?" said Whopper, in disgust.
"Of course I hit him."
"Then why didn't he tumble down or fly away?" came from Shep.
"He'd fly quick enough—if he could," said Snap. "There is something wrong with him. Maybe he is caught fast in the crotch of the limb."
Guns in hand the four boy hunters ran forward until they stood directly under the silver maple. Here they could see the head and the tail of the wild turkey, but that was all. The game did not offer to move, even when Whopper set up a shout.
"He's dead and caught fast, I am sure of it," said Whopper. "If it were otherwise he would surely flutter down or fly away."
"You'll have to do some climbing to get your game," said the doctor's son.
"Well, I can do that, too—if you'll give me a boost," answered
Whopper, passing over the shotgun and laying aside his rifle.
The others assisted him to reach the lower limbs of the silver maple, and up he went from one branch to another until he stood directly beneath the wild turkey. He put forth his hand with caution.
"Be careful," cried Shep. "If the turkey is still alive he may show fight and try to peck out your eyes."
Shielding himself as best he could, Whopper presently caught the turkey by one foot. He pulled gently at first and then gave a strong yank. Down came the game from the crotch of the tree, and Whopper almost lost his balance. To save himself he let the game drop to the ground and clutched at the tree branches nearest to him.
"Dead as a door nail!" he announced, as soon as he felt safe. "And I knew it from the start. He didn't fall because he got caught, that's all."
"Now you are up in the tree you had better take a look around and see if any more game is it sight," called up Snap.
"I will."
While the others stamped around to keep warm, Whopper mounted to the topmost branches of the silver maple. From this position he could overlook a wide expanse of country. He gazed first to, the northward and then over to the west.
"Hullo!" he yelled suddenly. "I see something worth going after."
"What?" questioned the others in concert.
"Two deer."
CHAPTER X
OUT AFTER DEER
"You see two deer?" queried Snap.
"Yes."
"How far from here?" questioned the doctor's son.
"A good quarter of a mile."
"Oh, that's not so far!" exclaimed Giant. "Come on after them, fellows."
"Wait till I get down," said Whopper, coming as quickly as he could.
"Don't go ahead yet."
"How are we going ahead, since you are the only one that knows where the game is?" answered the doctor's son.
As soon as Whopper was on the ground, they set off, taking the wild turkey with them. The shot had entered the heart of the turkey, killing it instantly, and its single flutter had only served to wedge it fast in the tree crotch.
"Boys, it is growing colder," announced Snap, as they proceeded.
"As if we didn't know it," answered Giant, slapping his hands together.
"And I think it is going to snow some more," went on Snap.
"Pooh! who cares!" cried Whopper. "I am going to get one of those deer if I die for it."
"So say I!" put in Shep. "Remember, we ought to get quite some game on hand, in case we get snowed in at the camp."
The sky had become overcast, and this was what made it seem colder. The wind, too, was springing up, and they were glad to keep to the sheltered portions of the ground so far as the journey after the deer permitted.
Inside of fifteen minutes they covered more than a quarter of a mile.
Yet no deer were to be seen.
"Whopper, didn't you make some mistake?" asked Snap, coming to a halt.
"I am sure I saw the deer."
"Whopper must have been deceived in the distance," said Giant. "Things look closer on the water, or when the ground is covered with snow."
"Perhaps that's it," answered Whopper. "Anyway, the deer were somewhere out here, I'm sure."
Again they went on, but soon came to a series of rocks, where walking was difficult. Giant slipped on one of the rocks and barked his left shin.
"Oh dear!" he cried, in pain. "I don't like this much. It is a regular
Rocky Road to Dublin!"
"I don't feel like going much further," said Snap. "I think we ought to go, back. See, it is starting in to snow," he added, as the flakes began to fall.
The four boy hunters held a consultation, which almost ended in a quarrel. Whopper was determined to go ahead after the deer and so was Shep, while Snap and Giant insisted upon returning to the camp.
"I'll tell you what's let do," said Whopper. "Two of us can go on and two go back. That's fair."
"And the two to go back can take the game to camp," added Shep. "There is no use of our carrying it with us. And, besides, if we get a deer, that will be a big load for us."
"Aren't you afraid of a big snow coming on?" questioned Snap.
"Oh, this snow won't amount to anything," declared the doctor's son.
"Perhaps it will."
Snap and Giant took possession of all the game, and turned over to
Shep and Whopper the lunch that had been brought along.
"We can get what we want when we reach camp," said Snap. "And you may need this before you get back."
"If I were you I wouldn't stay out too late," cautioned Giant. "If you do, you may lose your way in the dark."
"We'll be safe enough," answered Whopper confidantly.
It was no light load for Snap and Giant to carry, for the turkey, rabbits and squirrels were all big. They saw Shep and Whopper depart and rested fully five minutes before taking to the back trail.
"I wish they had come with us," said the leader of the Gun Club. "I doubt if they get a deer—the wind is blowing directly toward the game."
"Well, they wanted to go so let them," answered Giant.
The barked shin hurt considerably and he was anxious to get back to camp, that he might wash it and bathe it with witch hazel.
"Let us go up the lake and across on the ice," suggested Snap. "It will be shorter, and we'll avoid that nasty gully and the rough rocks."
They took to the course mentioned, and inside of half an hour reached the lake front once more. It was now snowing steadily and the wind was gradually rising.
"I said it was going to snow hard," grumbled Snap. "They should have come with us. It won't be fit to be out in another hour."
"Well, they wanted their own way, so let them have it," answered his companion.
They wished they had their skates to skate across a cove which separated them from the camp. The bare spots on the ice were as slippery as wet glass and they had to walk "as if on eggs," as Snap expressed it. Once his right foot went from under him, and he measured his length on his back, while his gun slid a dozen feet away.
"Come here and I'll pick you up," sang out Giant merrily, as soon as he saw his chum was not hurt.
"That was a peachy fall," grumbled Snap, as he turned over and got up.
"Glad the gun didn't go off."
"Do you know what I am going to do—if it doesn't snow too hard?" said Giant, as they walked on again. "Try my luck at fishing through a hole in the ice. Fish will taste good for breakfast."
They were directly in the middle of the lake when a distant gunshot reached their ears, followed by another. They halted and listened.
"Whopper and Shep must have found something to shoot at," remarked the smaller member of the Gun Club.
"Or else there are other hunters in this vicinity. I shouldn't be surprised if Jed Sanborn is out."
"Yes, and a dozen others, for the matter of that."
By the time they had crossed the lake the wind was blowing furiously, sending the snow whirling over the smooth ice in long white streaks. More than half out of breath, the two young hunters were glad enough to reach the shelter of the trees and bushes.
"It's going to be a corker," was Snap's comment. "Just listen to the wind whistling through the trees!"
"I don't think I'll try fishing just yet," said Giant. "I might get frozen fast to the ice."
"Fishing will have to wait, Giant. Come on into the Inn."
They were glad enough to enter the shelter and rest for a few minutes. Then, when they had regained their breath, both set about building a fire. Luckily they had saved some dry bark and brushwood, so starting the blaze was comparatively easy. They heaped on several medium-sized sticks and then a good back and a front log, and soon the fire was roaring merrily. The home-made chimney was wide open at the top, so a good deal of heat was lost, yet enough remained below to warm the shelter nicely.
"I tell you, a fire makes all the difference in the world!" declared Snap, as he pulled off his outer coat and cap and sat down close to the chimney. "No matter how forlorn or lonely a fellow feels, a fire is bound to brighten him up and make him feel on better terms with himself."
"Right you are, Snap. I pity the fellow who gets left in the woods without a match, or the wherewith to start a camp-fire," answered Giant, who was using the witch hazel on his ankle.
As soon as they were warm, the two boys set to work to cook themselves a substantial meal. They prepared sufficient for all hands, thinking that Shep and Whopper would be back in an hour or two at the most.
"They won't stay out very long—with this snowstorm on," remarked
Snap. "They know what such a storm means as well as we do."
Before leaving camp that morning Giant had made some bread dough and set it for raising. This was now in good shape and he kneaded it over and made some loaves and some muffins. The muffins they used for their meal, along with more beans and some stewed squirrel, and a pot of hot chocolate. They ate leisurely, at the same time keeping their ears on the alert for the coming of their companions. Three times during the meal Snap went to the doorway, to gaze out.
"They are foolish not to come back before it gets night," he said. "If they don't look out they'll be snow-bound."
"Oh, Snap, do you think so?" cried the smaller member of the club, in alarm.
"It might happen, Giant. Just look how it is snowing! Why, I can't see a hundred feet from the Inn!"
Giant came to the opening and peered forth. Snap was right, the snow was coming down thickly, and the fierce wind sent it swirling in all directions. The landscape on all sides was completely blotted out.
"Oh, if only they had come back with us!" murmured Giant.
Both of the boys sighed and returned to the fireside, finishing their meal in silence. They were much worried, more than they cared to admit to each other.
The meal over, Giant warmed some water and washed the few tin dishes and other things which had been dirtied. Snap put another log on the fire, and then got out the acetylene bicycle lamp that had been brought along.
"What are you going to do with that?" questioned Giant.
"Light it and hang it out for a searchlight," answered Snap. "It may aid them in finding the Inn."
The gas lamp was soon fizzing and then Snap applied a match. As it flashed up, he regulated the light and then the affair was taken outside and hung where its rays might flash forth through the storm and across the cove of the lake.
"They can see that quite a distance, even through the flying snow," said the leader of the Gun Club. "And they'll want all the light they can get, to find their way back."
He and Giant sat down again in front of the roaring fire. They watched the sparks fly upward and the ruddy glare showed a concerned look on the face of each. They did not care to read or play any game, and talked in low tones, each with his ears strained to catch any sound from without.
Slowly one hour after another went by, until the darkness of night lay over the camp. The snow came down as thickly as ever and the wind shrieked dismally through the leafless trees. Time and again the two boys had gone to the doorway to look out, and Snap had even run down to the very edge of the lake.
"It's no use," he said finally. "They are snowbound and can't get here. If only they are safe!"
"Yes, if only they are safe!" echoed Giant.
CHAPTER XI
SNOWBOUND
Left to themselves, Shep and Whopper started off briskly after the deer that had been seen from the top of the tree.
"We must get at least one of 'em by all means," said Shep. "It won't do to go back to the camp skunked."
"We shan't be skunked," answered Whopper, confidantly. "If there are a dozen, we'll bag the lot of them!"
The trail was by no means as easy as they had anticipated, and they had to pick their way around the rocks and through the brushwood with care. Once Whopper slid down one of the rocks and landed on his back with a thump that took the wind out of him completely.
"Cats and carrots!" he gasped. "Say, but that was a hard one, right enough!"
"Trying to split the rock?" asked Shep, helping him up.
"No, I was only testing it, to see how soft it was," growled Whopper.
Soon the two boys found themselves going up a small hill. The climb was rather discouraging, until Whopper let out a soft cry, and then motioned for silence.
"See 'em?" queried his chum, in a whisper.
"No, but there are the tracks, as plain as day!"
Whopper was right, the deer tracks were there, although partly covered by the falling snow. At the sight of them the spirits of the boy hunters arose wonderfully. They forgot how tired they were, and pushed forward at a faster gait than ever before.
"Won't we surprise them when we come back with such game!" said Shep.
"I think so, Shep. They didn't really think we'd get anything," answered Whopper.
On and on went the boys, the trail of the deer becoming plainer at every step. They did not notice how much ground they were covering nor in what direction they were moving. They had "deer fever" and had it hard.
Presently they came to the top of the rise of ground. Beyond was a patch of scrub timber, where, years before, a forest fire had wiped out the best of the trees. Looking ahead they saw four deer walking slowly along near some brushwood.
"There they are!" cried Shep, and brought his gun around for use.
At that moment the deer turned partly around and looked squarely at the boys. They were evidently taken completely by surprise and their heads went up high as they discovered the enemy. Then, without further hesitation they leaped forward, toward the dense timber ahead.
Bang! went Shep's shotgun, and crack! came the sharp report of
Whopper's rifle. Before the echoes had died away the last of the deer
leaped high in the air, made a part turn and then came down heavily.
Then it got up, ran several paces and fell again and began to kick.
"I hit him!"
"So did I!"
"Let's try for another!"
But to try for another was out of the question. With the fall of the hind one, the others reached the shelter of the dense timber and in a second more were completely out of sight, and running as only frightened deer can run when they know it is a case of life or death for them.
When the two young hunters reached the side of the fallen deer it was just breathing its last.
The bullet from the rifle had entered its side and the buckshot had struck in the neck and shoulder.
"We both brought him down," said Shep.
"Pity we didn't get the others," grumbled Whopper.
"Well, one is better than nothing."
"Oh, I know that, and I am thankful as far as that goes. Will it be worth while to go after the others, do you think?"
"No. They'll run too far before they stop."
The deer was of fair size, and looked as if it would make good eating. They inspected the game with much interest, turning it over and lifting it up.
"Pretty heavy," announced Whopper. "We'll have all we want to do to carry it to camp."
"Just what I was thinking. And say, just look how it is snowing!"
The two young hunters gazed about them and were a good deal startled.
It was growing dark and the leaden air seemed to be filled with snow.
They had paid little attention to the wind, but now realized that it
was rising steadily.
"The best thing we can do is to make for camp," said Shep. "If we don't—" He did not finish.
"You think we'll be snowbound?"
"Doesn't it look like it?"
"I must admit, it does."
Alarmed more than they cared to mention, both boys prepared to return to the Inn without delay. They selected a slender sapling and cut it down with a hunting knife Shep carried. They trimmed off the limbs, thus making of it a pole. To this they slung the deer, tied fast by the front and the hind legs. Then Whopper took the front end of the load and Shep the rear end, and thus they set off in the direction they had come.
For perhaps a quarter of a mile all went well, for, despite the falling snow, they managed to keep to the tracks they had made in following the deer. Then, of a sudden, Whopper came to a halt and Shep, of course, had to do likewise.
"What's up?" asked the latter.
"I can't see the trail anymore. The falling snow has covered it completely."
Whopper was right, as Shep realized with much alarm. Both of the young hunters gazed around in perplexity. The whirling snow hid the landscape from view. In a moment more, turning this way and that, they were completely bewildered.
"Well, I declare!" burst out Shep. "Hang me if I know where I am!"
"I think the lake is in that direction," announced Whopper, after a painful pause.
"Maybe you are right—I don't know." There seemed to be no sense in standing still, with the snow coming down thicker every minute and the wind whistling dismally all around them. On they went, for at least a quarter of a mile further. The rocks bothered them a great deal and twice both fell, dropping their load as they did so. "This is the finest pleasure stroll I ever took in my life," was Whopper's rather sarcastic comment. "Such level walking, and such nice bright sunshine, with birds singing and—Oh!" And his speech came to an end as he went down again, this time into a hollow of snow and dead leaves up to his knees.
"Are you hurt?" asked Shep.
"Not enough to weep over," was the answer. "But, no joking, this is fierce! I wish I was back to camp."
"So do I, Whopper. But wishing won't take us there—we've got to walk."
"Isn't it getting dark!"
"Yes, and just listen to that wind!"
By this time, both of the young hunters were scared, although neither mentioned it. Again they went on, but only for a dozen rods. Then both halted and stared in front of them in amazement.
"What's this?"
"We aren't going toward the lake at all!"
Before them was a slight hollow and beyond a cliff of rocks all of twenty to thirty feet high. On the top of the cliff grew a number of large trees and several of these had, in times past, been blown over, their tops resting in the hollow below while the roots still clung fast near the top of the cliff.
"Did you ever see this spot before?" asked Shep.
"Not that I can remember," answered his chum. "But I am sure it is not near the lake."
The young hunters were more alarmed than ever. They felt that they must be miles from camp. Night was now upon them, and the storm, instead of clearing away, was growing worse every minute.
"I don't think we can reach camp to-night," said Shep, as bravely as he could, although his voice trembled slightly. "We'll have to try and make ourselves as comfortable as possible elsewhere."
"What, right out here in the woods!"
"No, we can hunt for some sort of shelter, Whopper."
"Don't you think we can find the lake? If we once found that we could keep on along the shore until we struck our camp."
"I don't believe we can locate the lake in this darkness and with the snow coming down so thickly. Why, look around! You can't see at all!"
Whopper did gaze around, and had to admit that Shep was right. They were shut in by the storm, which seemed to grow wilder and wilder.
With heavy hearts the boys drew closer to the cliff, as that seemed to afford some shelter from the wind, which cut like a knife. In the darkness they stumbled into the hollow and then between two of the fallen trees.
"Well, if we have got to seek shelter, this place may prove as good as any," observed Whopper. "It's warmer under the rocks, and we can use some of these tree branches for a fire."
"Yes, we must have a fire," answered the doctor's son, who did not relish the darkness. He wondered what they would be able to do should wolves attack them, but did not mention this to his companion.
Dropping their load in the snow, they felt their way between the trees, and then broke off some of the small branches for firewood. They got the driest they could find.
"Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" came suddenly from Whopper.
"What's up?"
"I haven't a single match! Have you any?"
In haste Shep felt in his pocket. There were two matches there, but one felt as if it was no good.
"I've got two, but one feels as if the top was off," he announced.
"For gracious sake, don't let the good one go out, Shep! Here, I've got an old letter in my pocket. Light that first."
The doctor's son felt in his other pockets and brought forth part of an old railroad timetable. The papers were bunched together and held low, while Shep tried to strike the match that had lost part of its head. It made a faint streak of light, but that was all.
"Is that the good one?" asked Whopper, hoarsely. Never before had he been so anxious about a light.
"No. I'll try the good one now," answered the doctor's son.
"Don't let the wind blow it out," pleaded his chum. "Here, use my cap."
The papers were placed beside the cap, and Shep struck the match several times. Both of the boys hardly dared to breathe. Then came a flash, and a tiny flame sprang up, and the papers were set to blazing. They put on the smallest and driest of the twigs and then the small branches, and both tended the fire with as much care as an infant receives from its nurse. Soon it became stronger and stronger, and they breathed a deep sigh of relief and put on some big pieces of wood.
As Snap had said at camp, the fire brightened things up wonderfully and both boys felt lighter-hearted as the ruddy glare lit up the scene. They found something of a circular hollow under the cliff with a big fallen tree just beyond it. They brought the fire to one side of this hollow, and banked up the snow on the other side, and soon the shelter began to grow warm. Then they brought in the deer and hung the game in a fork of the fallen tree.
"Lucky we brought that lunch along," said Shep. "I am as hungry as a bear."
"So am I," returned Whopper, "and I don't think that little lunch is going to satisfy me. What's the matter with broiling a venison streak?"
"Do you want to cut up the deer before we get back to camp?"
"Most likely we'll have to. If this snow keeps on there is no telling how long we'll be snowbound."
"That is true, too. Well, we needn't cut up the whole deer—only cut out what we want to use."