CHAPTER XVIII
AN UNEXPECTED PERIL
The snow continued to come down thickly. The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging. It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair. It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
The boys and the old hunter slept on, unconscious of their danger, until an extra loud crack awoke Whopper. The lad sat up, looked around him and listened. Then came another snap.
"Must be a log on the fire," said Whopper to himself. "But it didn't seem to come from there. Perhaps—Oh!"
Whopper heard a crack directly over his head, then down came a heap of snow that all but buried him.
"Hi! Wake up, everybody!" he yelled, in alarm. "The roof is coming down!"
"What's that?" called Jed Sanborn, rolling out of his blanket and struggling to his feet, only to be hurled flat by the snow that came down on his head.
By this time the boys were all awake and trying to get up. They heard several cracks, and then more snow came down and with it several sticks of good size.
"We must get out! If we don't we'll be hurt!" cried Whopper. "Come on," and he leaped for the doorway, which had been well closed, to keep out the cold.
Before Whopper could gain the outer air the entire roof of the shelter seemed to come down, and Snap and Shep were buried beneath the ruins. Giant was caught against the wall, not far from the rude chimney. Jed Sanborn reached the doorway, and he and Whopper managed to push down the barrier and leap outside.
Some of the snow tumbled into the fire and this created a smoke which all but stifled poor Giant, who, for several minutes could hardly move. In the meantime Snap and Shep were flat on their breasts, trying to squirm from under the mass that was pressing them to the earth.
"The others have been caught!" exclaimed Whopper, in horror, as he gazed behind him. "Oh, what shall we do?"
"Tear the stuff apart as fast as we can," answered the old hunter, and set the example by springing back and pulling on branches, poles and chunks of snow. Whopper set in to do likewise, and the pair labored like Trojans for several minutes. Then they caught sight of Snap and actually hauled him from the wreckage feet first!
"Who's out and who's caught?" demanded Snap, as soon as he could speak, and having learned he went on: "We must get Shep and Giant out, before the fire reaches them!"
"Help! help!" came faintly from Giant.
"Where are you?" asked Snap.
"Here—next to the chimney. I am wedged fast. The smoke is choking me!"
"We'll git him out!" spoke Jed Sanborn, who had not stopped in his labors, and he pitched in harder than ever, with Whopper and Snap doing all they could to aid him. Snap had his face and one hand badly scratched, but paid no attention, just then, to the blood which was flowing from the wounds.
It was not long before the three outside were able to aid Shep. Using all his strength, which was considerable, Jed Sanborn held up a portion of the fallen roof and Shep crawled forth until Whopper and Snap could get hold of him and raise him up. He had suffered but little, although the breath had been forced out of him.
"Get poor Giant!" were the first words. "Don't—don't mind me. I'll be all ri-right when I—I get m-my wind!"
The others were already laboring to release Giant. Through the tangle of branches the smoke was pouring, for more snow had fallen on the fire.
"Giant, can't you turn and get some air through the cracks of the side?" called out Whopper.
"That's what I am trying to do, but I am caught fast," was the gasped-out answer.
"I'll try to do something around near the chimney," said Jed Sanborn.
"Where's the axe?"
It was given to him and soon he was at work close to where Giant was held a prisoner. Fortunately a slender tree of the shelter frame was located at this point and a few well-directed blows cut it off. Then Jed shoved the tree upward, thus making a hole through which Giant fell rather than crawled.
"Are you burnt?" asked Whopper and Shep, in a breath.
"No, but I am about ha-half smoked!" declared the smaller member of the Gun club and coughed.
"Boys, we must put the fire out, or all of your things will be ruined," said Jed Sanborn. "I reckon I know how to do the trick, now Giant and the rest are out."
"How?" asked several.
"Fill up the chimney with snow."
This was a good idea and soon, by forcing the snow down the chimney, they had the fire all but out. Of course it smoked a great deal, but this did little damage.
It was three o'clock in the morning and the snow was coming down as thickly as ever. They scarcely knew what to do, until Jed Sanborn suggested they build a camp-fire outside.
"So long as you've got plenty of firewood why not use it?" said he.
"We want a light, too."
"Here is the acetylene gas lamp," said Snap, picking it up from where it had fallen, near the doorway.
"And the can of carbide," added Shep. "This will help us to start a fresh fire, even if the wood is wet," he continued.
"How?" questioned Jed Sanborn, who had never used such a "new-fangled consarn," as he called the bicycle lamp.
"I'll show you," answered Shep. "Just heap up some of the wood, with the little sticks on the bottom."
The wood was heaped up and then, in a hollow in the snow underneath, Shep dumped out some of the carbide from the can. Then he lit a match, held it to the snow, to melt the latter a little, and up blazed the gas, at first slowly and then more furiously, until the fire was roaring.
"Why, how is that!" cried the old hunter. "Never knew snow to set fire to anything in my life."
"It is very simple, Jed," explained Shep. "As soon as the snow melts it turns to water, and the water, soaking the carbide, generates acetylene gas, which burns about the same as gas in a city."
"Well, it's an easy way to start a camp-fire," was the old hunter's comment. "I've had lots o' trouble sometimes, when the wood was wet as it is now."
The roaring fire made matters a little more cheerful, yet the boys felt discouraged, with the roof of the shelter broken down. Jed Sanborn did all in his power to cheer them up.
"When you go camping like this you can't expect everything to go jest right," he said. "You have to take the lean with the fat an' the bitter with the sweet. Now, I knowed a crowd o' men went camping out in the North Woods a few years ago. First one of the men took sick an' had to go home, then the boat they had got to leakin' so they couldn't use it, then came a forest fire, and in running away one of 'em up an' broke his leg. Thet was an outin' fer you!"
"Thanks, but I'd rather stay home," said Snap. "But I believe you,—there is no use of crying over spilt milk, as the saying goes. What do you advise?"
"Cleaning out the place and puttin' up a good, strong roof. We can do it by night."
"Night!" cried Whopper. "What is it now but night?"
"No, it's morning, lad, but rather early, I admit."
Under the old hunter's directions they went to work, and by seven o'clock had the shelter cleaned out. This gave them a chance to get at their stores and also use the fireplace once more, and they cooked a fish breakfast and made a generous pot of coffee and another of chocolate.
"We'll cut all these branches away and then build a regular pole roof," said Jed Sanborn. "Build it right and it will withstand any pile o' snow you kin git on it."
He told them just what poles to cut and how to place them, and showed them the best way to put in strips of bark and bind the whole together. By nightfall they had the new roof finished, and all of the boys admitted it was much better than the other roof had been.
CHAPTER XIX
THE FIGHT WITH THE BUCK
Jed Sanborn had promised to remain long enough in the camp to go out on at least one deer hunt with them, and, on the following day, the whole party started out, shutting up the shelter as best they could, so that no wild animals might get inside during their absence.
The snow had ceased to come down. It covered the ground to the depth of a foot and a half on the level and Jed said it was just the right kind of weather for deer.
"If we spot 'em they won't have much chance to git away," he told them, "They can't run in sech deep snow nohow."
Of course they went on their snowshoes. Jed had brought his own along—a pair rather the worse for wear, but on which he covered the snow as rapidly as any of them. He said he had frequently been out on snowshoes for days at a time and they did not bother him in the least. He grinned when Shep took a tumble, but aided the lad to arise without any comment.
The old hunter had seen some deer at a place called Doorknob Valley, a hollow to the southwest of Firefly Lake, and led them in that direction. The trail was by no means an even one, and often they had to force their way through bushes half buried in the snow.
It was noon before they came in sight of Doorknob Valley, with some hills running around one side and a series of cliffs and rough rocks and scrub pines on the other. To the boys' dismay, not a deer was in sight. Snap looked questioningly at the old hunter.
"I think we'll find 'em somewhere around here," said Jed. "Come, follow me, and don't make any noise. I haven't seen a winter yet when there weren't deer in Doorknob Valley."
They pressed on, over one of the hills, and then towards the cliffs and rough rocks. Soon Jed held up his hand.
"Have you spotted any?" whispered Shep, eagerly.
The old hunter nodded, and then pointed to the edge of one of the cliffs. Under, in something of a shelter, they could see several deer and not far away a big, sturdy buck, all feeding on some tender saplings which they were stripping of bark.
"Oh, what a shot!" whispered Giant, excitedly.
"We'll try to git a bit closer," said Jed Sanborn. "But don't make any noise, or we'll have to follow 'em until they get winded."
Hardly daring to breathe after that, the boys followed the old hunter in and out among the cliffs and rough rocks. This was the hardest part of the journey and both Snap and Whopper went down, the latter twice, much to his disgust.
"Now, don't make a sound," cautioned Jed Sanborn. "And don't show yourselves till I tell you to."
They were passing down between the rough rocks, and soon came to a spot where there were several thick clumps of bushes. Here the old hunter went ahead again. Then he motioned for the boys to drop down low and they did so. Peering forth through the bushes they could now see the deer close at hand. The big buck, however, was not visible.
"Where is the buck?" whispered Snap in Jed's ear. The young leader of the Gun Club wished very much to lay that magnificent beast low.
The old hunter pointed to a nearby cliff.
There was the buck, standing between two saplings, eating the bark of one and rubbing himself against the other.
"Can I hit him, do you think?" went on Snap.
"You can try. But wait."
In a low tone Jed Sanborn instructed the lads to aim and fire to the best advantage. Each was to shoot at his own game, and Sanborn said he would take a shot or two afterwards.
"I'll give the word," said the old hunter. "Are you all ready?"
They were, and he ordered them to fire. Bang! bang! bang! went the three shotguns, and crack! went the rifle. The deer Shep had aimed at was killed outright and the two aimed at by Giant and Whopper were badly wounded. The buck, upon which Snap had tried his skill, was hit in the flank, and he gave a snort of rage as he swung around, breaking one of the saplings as he did so.
"Hurrah, I've got one!" cried Shep, in exultation.
"Mine is down, but it isn't dead," said Giant.
"Neither is mine, but I guess we can get 'em both," answered Whopper. And then the lads ran forward to secure the two struggling deer, that were floundering furiously in the snow.
Snap had turned toward the buck, but now he got a sudden attack of "buck fever" as it is called and stood stock still, with eyes staring from his head.
"Look out there, he'll horn you!" yelled Jed Sanborn, and raised his gun to fire. But as he did so, Shep bumped against him, and the buckshot intended for the buck only rent the empty air.
By this time the buck was less than a hundred feet from where Snap was standing. That he was wild with rage could be seen from the look out of his wide-open and bloodshot eyes. He lowered his antlers, as if to pierce poor Snap through and through.
"Run! run!" yelled Shep. "Run, Snap!"
It was then that Snap awoke to the peril which confronted him, and turning, he made a leap to one side and around a clump of the bushes. The buck turned too, and at that moment Jed Sanborn discharged the second barrel of his shotgun, this time taking the game in one of the rear legs.
For the moment the buck was halted and he raised the wounded leg and let out a moan of pain. Then his fury increased, and with a mighty effort he arose in the air, intending to leap directly over the clump of bushes and on top of Snap.
But now Shep was ready for another shot and he let drive at the buck, hitting him along the left side. This served to bring the leap to a halt in midair, and doubling up, the buck sank down directly in the midst of the bushes.
"Good for you!" shouted Snap, and rushing forward he, too, took a second shot. This was too much for the buck, and crashing out of the bushes he rolled over and over and then stretched out, dead.
It was fully five minutes before the excitement was at an end. Snap was a trifle pale.
"What a narrow escape!" he murmured. "I thought sure he was going to horn me!"
"A buck will fight sometimes and when he does he's as ugly as any critter on four legs," said Jed Sanborn. "I might have fixed him with my first shot only Shep bumped into me. But I know he didn't mean to do it," added the old hunter hastily.
"I didn't see you—I was looking at the other deer," explained the doctor's son.
"Can we get any more of 'em?" demanded Whopper.
"Whopper always wants a dozen or two," laughed Giant.
"No more deer to-day, lad," said Jed Sanborn. "I think we have had remarkable luck. Why, sometimes a crowd like this can tramp all day and not get a sight of a deer. As it is, we're going to have some fun getting our game home."
"Oh, we can't carry such a load!" cried Giant.
"We'll cut some drags and get 'em to camp that way," said the old hunter.
He pointed out two saplings which might do for drags, and they cut them down with the axe the old hunter had brought along. Then they placed the two largest of the deer on one and the buck and the smallest deer on the other, thus making the loads about even. Some of the branches of the saplings had been cut off, so that they trailed over the snow rather flatly, which was what was desired.
They had brought lunch with them, and before they started on the return they built a small campfire and made themselves a pot of chocolate, something of which Jed was exceedingly fond.
"I don't go much on candy," said he, "but chocolate seemed to hit the spot, better'n coffee or tea."
"I like them all," answered Snap.
The repast over, they started on the return, Jed helping with first one drag and then the other. He also pointed out what he thought would be the easiest route to follow. This was over two hills.
"Well have to climb, but we won't fall down between any o' the rocks," he said. "It's dangerous walking over rocks with snow on 'em, for if you go down in a hollow you're liable to twist an ankle or break a leg."
"We certainly don't want any accidents," said Shep.
"How the eyes of Ham Spink and his crowd would stick out if they knew we had bagged so much game!" exclaimed Whopper. "If they had such luck they'd never get done talking about it."
"Do you think they'll come out this winter?" questioned Giant.
"I don't know," answered Snap. "If they do come out I hope they keep away from us."
"So do I," put in the doctor's son.
CHAPTER XX
SHOOTING WILD DUCKS
When the boys and Jed Sanborn reached camp a surprise awaited them. Seated at a small fire in front of Birch Tree Inn was an elderly man dressed in the outfit of a mountain guide.
"Why, it's Jack Dalton!" cried Shep.
"Hullo, boys!" called the man at the fire, rising. "Thought as how you'd be back some time to-day. How are ye, Jed?" he added, to the old hunter.
Jack Dalton, as my old readers know, was a guide of that vicinity, well known to all the inhabitants for miles around. He had visited the boys' camp during the summer and had been friendly in more ways than one.
"Thought I might get a shakedown here for the night," said Jack
Dalton. "Been hoofing it sence five o'clock this morning—over from
Philbrook's preserve—and I'm too tuckered out to make Fairview."
"Certainly you can stay with us," answered Snap. "Had any luck?"
"A few rabbits and some ducks, that's all. Gee shoo! Do you mean to say you got them deer an' that buck to-day?"
"We did."
"Gosh all hemlock! No wonder a feller like me can't get nuthin! That's rare luck; eh, Jed?"
"It was," answered the old hunter. "They don't expect to do it again in a hurry."
The shelter was opened up and all went inside and prepared a generous supper. Jack Dalton insisted upon giving the boys one of the ducks he had brought down, in return for the accommodations received. On their part they gave the guide a generous chunk of venison, for which he was exceedingly thankful.
"I'd like to go out duck shooting," said Whopper. "It would be something different."
"No ducks around Firefly Lake," answered Giant. "I asked Jed."
Jack Dalton was questioned and said that there were plenty of wild ducks below the Philbrook preserve—at a locality known as the Marshes—and he told them how to get there.
"But you want to be careful about walking over the Marshes," he said. "In the summer time there are lots of bog holes, an' it ain't none too safe in the winter time."
As Jack Dalton was going on to Fairview with Jed Sanborn, it was decided by the boys to send the buck and one of the other deer home, which would be easy, with two men to draw the load. All spent a comfortable night in camp, nothing coming to disturb them. Breakfast was a substantial one, and by nine o'clock Jed and Dalton set off with their load, the old hunter also carrying various letters for the folks at home. The boys went out on the lake to see them off, and gave them a rousing cheer on parting.
"Tell everybody we are having the time of our lives," shouted Snap after the pair.
There was more snow in the air, and the young hunters spent the remainder of that day in camp, cleaning the game they had brought in and also their firearms, and mending a couple of snowshoes that had become a little broken. A portion of the chimney also needed attention, and before they knew it, night was once more upon them.
"I'll tell you what," said Snap. "Out here the time seems to fairly fly."
"Boys, do you realize that day after to-morrow is Christmas," came from Whopper.
"So it is!" was the cry.
"Gracious, I almost forgot about it!"
"We must celebrate!"
"Sure thing! Oh, we'll have a dandy time. We can have fish, fowl and venison, and pudding and cake and nuts and apples, and lots of good things," finished Giant.
"Let us go duck hunting to-morrow and spend Christmas here," said the doctor's son, and so it was agreed.
Everything was prepared for an early start, and the four boy hunters were "up and doing" by seven o'clock in the morning.
"Phew! but ain't it cold!" ejaculated Snap, as he slapped his hands together. "I didn't calculate on such a drop in the thermometer."
It certainly was freezing weather and they bundled up well before leaving the shelter. As before, they shut up tightly, to keep out all wild animals. The deer and other game had been hung high by ropes from several tree limbs.
Of course all were on snowshoes, and they carried in their game-bags provisions enough for two good meals. Every day they found walking on snowshoes easier, and all got over the ground, or rather snow, very well.
Once over the hills back of Firefly Lake, they took to a route that was new to them, leading through a heavy belt of spruce timber and then over a sloping stretch running down to the lowlands. On the way they stirred up some rabbits and Whopper could not resist the temptation to bring one of them low.
"Now I won't have to go back empty-handed, even if I don't see another thing," he declared.
It was fully noon by the time they reached the edge of the Marshes, wide stretches of lowlands, dotted here and there with clumps of bushes. At a great distance they heard gunshots, but failed to discover the gunners.
They tramped on to a point where Jack Dalton had said the wild ducks were apt to be found. The wind was coming up, and out in this wide open plain it cut like a knife.
"We won't want to stay out here more than an hour or two," said Shep.
"My backbone feels like an icicle!"
"Do you know what I think?" said Giant. "I think it is going to snow."
"So do I," came from Whopper.
A few minutes later the first flakes fell, and fearful that the snow would interfere with their sight of any wild ducks they hurried forward until they reached a circle of bushes Jack Dalton had mentioned.
"Wait, I see some ducks!" cried Giant. "See, they are rising and coming this way!"
"Be quick!" cried Snap, and brought around his shotgun. The others also aimed their weapons, and as the wild ducks sailed almost over them they let drive in a scattering volley. Two of the ducks were killed outright and came straight down, while a third circled around badly wounded. The others swept out of range before any harm could be done to them.
"We've got two, anyway," said Shep.
"I'm going after that wounded one!" cried Whopper, and went off on his snowshoes behind the fluttering game. The duck touched the snow and then arose again and did this several times. Giant followed Whopper, bound to get the third duck if it was possible to do so.
"Beware of holes!" yelled Snap, after the pair. "Remember what Jack
Dalton said!"
The others were too interested in pursuing the wounded duck to pay attention to his words. Thinking he saw a chance, Whopper discharged his weapon but it did no damage. Then Giant took a shot, and this was likewise of no avail.
"Gracious, ducks seem to be harder to hit than deer!" cried the smaller member of the Gun Club. "It will get away after all, Whopper!"
"Not if I know it," was the reply. "Come on!"
The pair continued to run, until fully a hundred yards more had been covered. The wounded duck had now fluttered down into some bushes and both felt sure they would be able to bag it. So eager were they that they did not notice the softness of the snow before them until, without warning, they sank up to their knees.
"Hi! what's this?" sputtered Whopper, as he floundered around.
"We're in a hole!" gasped Giant. "Say, we had better get back!"
They tried to turn back, but it was impossible, and soon both young hunters were up to their waists and then to their breasts. They forgot all about the wounded duck and began to call lustily for help.
CHAPTER XXI
A TOUCH OF A BLIZZARD
"Those boys ought to be more careful," said Snap, as he watched Giant and Whopper plunge along after the wounded duck.
"Well, you told them to beware of holes," answered Shep.
The two ducks that had been killed were picked up and put in the game-bags, and then Snap and Shep started to follow their comrades, but at a more moderate rate of speed.
"Hark! they are calling for help!" exclaimed the leader of the Gun
Club, a moment later.
"They are in a hole!" said the doctor's son. "Look, I can just see their heads!"
"We must help them out! My! how the wind is blowing!"
The increase in wind was rapid and by the time Snap and Shep drew close to where Whopper and Giant were still floundering, it carried the loose snow around in a perfect whirlwind.
"Can't you crawl out?" asked Snap, coming as close as he dared.
"Every time we try we seem to sink deeper!" gasped Giant.
"Then keep still and I'll aid you," answered the leader of the Gun
Club. "Come, Shep."
"What we you going to do?"
"I'll show you. Be quick."
Walking to the nearest bushes, Snap cut them down with the hatchet he had insisted upon carrying. Shep now understood, and both lugged the bushes to the edge of the fast sinking snow. Then more bushes were brought, and at last, almost exhausted, Giant and Whopper crawled forth on their hands and knees, their snowshoes held in the air. Then they got up on their feet and lost no time in gaining a point of safety.
"I told you to be careful," said Snap, rather severely. "And Jack Dalton warned you, too. It is a lucky thing you didn't sink into the marsh up to your head."
"We were after the duck and didn't think," answered Whopper. "But you can bet I'll be careful next time."
"So will I be careful," came from Giant. "Where's the duck?"
"Flew away—I saw it," answered Shep. "Gracious, how the wind is rising!" he added, pulling his coat collar closer to his neck. "It's going to be a hammer of a snowstorm."
"I think we had better get off the Marshes," said Snap, after a look at the sky and the whirling snow. "This looks to me as if it was going to turn into blizzard."
"Going to leave with only two ducks?" asked the doctor's son. "It seems a pity—after tramping such a distance, too!"
"Maybe we'll strike some more going back," said Snap, cheerfully.
All of the young hunters were willing to leave the Marshes, for the increasing wind made the situation decidedly unpleasant. When they turned back they had both the wind and the pelting snow in their faces and could scarcely see where they were going.
"Isn't this fierce!" gasped Shep, after they had walked less than fifty yards. "I never felt the wind blow so strongly!"
"We get the full sweep of it out here," answered Shep. "It won't be so bad when we reach the timber again."
The mind was fairly whistling around them now. They could not tell how much snow was falling, for much of it was caught up from where it lay and sent hurtling along, now in straight dashes and then in mad circles that blinded and bewildered them. More than once they had to turn around to catch their breath and clear their eyes.
"I wish we we-were to th-the timber!" gasped Giant. "I feel as if the wind was going to pick me up and carry me away!"
"Let us keep close together," said Whopper. "There is no telling what will happen with such a wind tearing down upon us."
They were all scared and with good reason, for to be caught in a blizzard on that wide stretch of marshland was a serious matter. Sticking as closely together as possible they hurried on, as fast as the gale and the flying snow would permit. The air was growing darker and heavier every moment.
"Are you sure you are heading for the timber?" questioned Whopper, presently. "I must confess I am completely turned around."
"So am I," added Shep.
"I—I think the timber is in that direction, but I am not certain," answered the leader of the club, pointing with his hand.
All stared around them in bewilderment. They scarcely knew how to turn.
"Well, one thing is sure, we can't stay here," said Shep. "Come on," and he started off in the direction his chum had pointed out.
"Mind you, I don't say I am right," called out Snap.
"We'll go that way anyhow—if we can make it," said Whopper.
It was slow traveling, and they had to rest frequently, for the wind seemed to fairly take the breath out of their bodies. Once they came up to a clump of bushes and were half tempted to make a prolonged stop there. But Snap demurred very strongly.
"It won't do, fellows," he said. "The snow is piling up fast and the bushes will be snowed under in another hour or two. We have got to reach the timber somehow. It's our only chance of safety."
Again they struggled on, so out of breath and weak they could scarcely draw one snowshoe after the other. Giant fell down and had to be raised up.
"I—I am afraid I ca—can't go another step!" he blurted out. "I am as we—weak as a—a cat!"
"We'll help you," said Snap, kindly. "Come, Shep, you take one arm and I'll take the other. Whopper can go in front, to break the force of the wind for us."
At the end of ten minutes more all were ready to drop. They were numbed with the cold and their breath came in quick, short gasps. It looked as if they must give up and perish.
"Oh, if only we were back at camp!" sighed Whopper.
"Don't give up!" urged Snap. He stopped and gazed over his left shoulder. "Am I mistaken, or is that a tree yonder?"
"I'll soon see," answered Shep and turned in that direction. "Yes, it's a tree and the timber is back of it!" he cried in delight.
This announcement put renewed courage in the young hunters, and once again they struggled on against the fierce wind, which was now blowing little short of a hurricane. The trees came into sight dimly through the swirling whiteness, and a minute later they sank down under the overhanging boughs of a big spruce.
"Safe at last!" murmured Shep.
"Oh, how glad I am of it!" added Giant. "I—I thought we'd be lo—lost sure!"
"We must have a fire, first of all," said Snap. "My feet are half frozen already!"
"I brought some carbide along, so we can easily start a blaze," added Whopper. "But we've got to be careful in such a wind as this. Just listen!"
They listened, and it made them shiver to hear the shrieking of the wind as it went ploughing through the forest, often snapping off a bough here or a tree top there. The spruce they were under bent and swayed, but it was strong and healthy and it did not give way.
Leaving his companions for a few minutes, Snap did his best to look around the vicinity. He could see but little, but made out three big trees growing somewhat close together on the edge of the marshland. At one side of the trees was an irregular rock five or six feet in height.
"That will have to do," he told himself, and called for his companions to join him. But they did not hear, owing to the raging of the storm, and he had to go after them.
"We'll fix up some sort of shelter among the trees," he said. "And we can build a fire against that rock. Let us get to work at once, before it grows colder and the snow gets worse."
The brief respite had rested them, and while Whopper and Giant cut some wood and built a fire, Snap and Shep broke down some spruce branches and piled them up around the clump of trees. Then they kicked up the snow into something of a wall leading from the side of the rock to the nearest tree.
"There, now we can keep fairly warm if nothing else," said the leader of the Gun Club.
It was still very dark and the fire did little to dispel the gloom, the wind having a tendency to blow the smoke in several directions at once. But the fire kept them fairly warm and for that they were thankful.
"If this isn't a blizzard it is next door to it," remarked the doctor's son, as he gazed at the display of the elements. "And the worst of it is, there is no telling how long it is going to last."
"Will we be snowed in?" asked Whopper.
"It looks like it."
"And with nothing but a rabbit and two ducks!" cried Giant. "Boys, it doesn't look as if Christmas was going to be such a cheerful day after all."
"Never mind Christmas," put in Snap. "Let us be thankful if we are not snowbound so completely that we starve to death!"
CHAPTER XXII
A REMARKABLE CHRISTMAS NIGHT
Night came on rapidly after that, and with the coming of utter darkness the fury of the elements appeared to increase. The wind shrieked and whistled through the timber and hummed in the tops of the spruces overhead. Occasionally they would hear a crash, as some mighty tree would be laid low, and they trembled for fear the storm would damage their shelter.
They were tremendously hungry and ate rather more of the lunch brought along than Snap thought right. One of the ducks was cleaned and broiled with care and half of the meat divided into four equal shares. For drinking water they melted some snow, a little at a time, in a drinking cup.
After the meal there remained nothing to do but to mind the fire and go to sleep. They took turns at watching the blaze, each boy remaining on guard two hours.
All night long the storm raged and the snow came down as thickly as ever. As a consequence, when it began to grow a little brighter they found that they were completely snowed in. On all sides the spruces were nearly broken down with their weights of whiteness, and on the opposite side of the rock where the fire was built was a drift of snow eight to ten feet high. This gave them a little more shelter but cut off a good share of the outlook.
"Merry Christmas!" cried Snap, as he got up and stretched himself as well as he could under the low boughs.
"Merry Christmas!" cried all of the others, and then Whopper added:
"But it isn't very Merry, is it?"
"I don't see that broiled fish, and stuffed turkey, and cake and pudding and candy and—" began Giant.
"Hold on, Giant, don't make us any more hungry than we are!" interrupted the doctor's son. "We're here and we've got to make the best of it, so don't croak."
"Oh, I'm not croaking," answered the smaller member of the Gun Club. "I shall be satisfied if we get back to camp alive with such a snow all around us."
"Giant, why didn't you hang up your stocking last night?" asked Whopper, jokingly, and this brought forth a general snicker, and then all the lads felt a trifle less blue.
Breakfast was certainly a slim affair, each person getting a small bite of duck, two crackers, a spoonful of cold beans Shep had brought along, and a drink of melted snow. Several gazed wistfully at the rabbit, but Snap shook his head at them.
"We've got to save that," he said. "You know that as well as I do."
"Don't you suppose there are some birds or squirrels or rabbits around here?" asked Shep.
"We can look—if the storm will let us."
Breakfast over, one after another of the young hunters went beyond the clump of spruces to look around. But the weather was so wild, and the snow so deep, all were glad to come back.
There was little of the holiday air in the gathering. All of the boys were sober, for they fully realized the peril of their situation. Their food would not last long, and where were they to get more?
At noon they had little more than a rabbit lunch—something that made Whopper sigh as he thought of the big Christmas dinner he had thought to feast upon.
"I think it is clearing a bit," said Shep, about three o'clock. "If we want to move now is our chance to do so."
It was voted by all hands to move, and they started without delay. They could not locate the exact route toward their camp, but made it as nearly as possible. The snowdrifts were truly terrific, and even on snowshoes they made slow progress.
"Wait, I see a rabbit!" cried Shep, presently, and he pointed to a clump of bushes. Then he unslung his shotgun and pushed his way forward. A gray head appeared over the rim of snow and he blazed away. The rabbit gave a leap and fell dead.
"A little more to eat anyway," said the young hunter, as he put the game in his bag.
"Wait, where there is one rabbit there are sometimes more," said Snap.
"Let us stir around a little and see."
They did as he suggested, and soon sent two rabbits skipping from under a low-hanging tree. The rabbits could not run very well in the deep snow and were secured with ease. But that was the last of the game in that vicinity.
"Now we won't starve right away," said Snap, and gave a sigh of satisfaction.
They were less than half way through the belt of timber when they came to a spot where a big tree had been blown over by the wind. As they walked around this Giant gave a cry, and, stepping between the branches, brought forth a couple of dead squirrels.
"Killed by the fall, I suppose," he said.
"It's lucky for us," answered Shep, "for it means just so much more food."
"Let us look for nuts,—the squirrels must have had some," came from
Snap.
They made a search, and soon found a hollow half filled with nuts and took them all. Then they went on as before.
By the time they reached the end of the timber belt all were too exhausted to go further and they looked around for another shelter of some kind. They found several trees growing close together and in something of a row.
"That will shelter us from the wind," said Snap, "although it is not as good a place as the one we used last night."
They cut some tree branches, placed them from tree to tree and packed on some snow. Then they lit another fire and banked up the snow on the other side. By this time it was dark again and they were as hungry as bears. They broiled two of the rabbits and ate every morsel and then cracked a quantity of the nuts and picked out the meat.
"This is certainly a Christmas to remember," said Shep, as they sat in front of the fire that evening. "I should like to know what the folks are doing."
"Don't mention it," cried Giant. "It makes a fellow feel homesick."
They cut plenty of firewood, and in honor of the day built a blaze that was to be seen a long distance off. This made them a little more cheerful and they even cracked a few jokes. But with it all that Christmas was far from a bright one. They were still miles from their camp on Firefly Lake and all wondered if they would get back in safety.
CHAPTER XXIII
IN TROUBLE ONCE MORE
The next day it snowed again and the four boy hunters were almost in despair, for they had calculated to strike out for Firefly Lake as soon as it grew light.
"It would be foolish to try it just now," said Snap, looking at the sky. "just see how fast the snow is falling!"
The heavy snow kept up all day, but cleared away as evening came on.
Looking out about eight o'clock Shep gave a shout:
"Boys, the stars are shining. It is as clear as crystal!"
All rushed forth to verify the glad tidings. It was indeed clear and the glittering stars made a scene of royal splendor.
"We'll start for camp early to-morrow," announced Snap. "Now let us get to bed and get a good night's rest. It is going to be no picnic walking on this snow."
They turned in, after fixing the fire, leaving Giant on guard for the first three hours. After Giant came Whopper, and then Snap took his turn.
Snap had scarcely commenced his vigil when he heard the bark of a fox at a great distance.
Presently the barking of the fox ceased and utter silence reigned for all of half an hour. Then came another sound which made the leader of the Gun Club listen with intentness.
"Wolves, as sure as fate!" he murmured. "I trust they are not coming here!"
Another period of silence, and the mournful howls came still closer. There were many more of them and Snap came to the conclusion that a regular band of wolves were closing in on the little shelter beside the spruces.
"Guess I had better wake up Shep," he told himself. "He has got to take the next watch anyway."
He aroused his chum and told Shep of what he had heard. Then came more of the howls, still closer.
"They are certainly coming this way," said the doctor's son, picking up his gun. "And I'm afraid there must be quite a number of them."
After this came another period of silence. Both boys kept on the alert, Snap on one side of the camp and Shep on the other. They felt sure that the wolves were coming closer and they were not mistaken.
"I see one!" cried Snap, as a pair of gleaming eyes showed themselves over a rim of snow.
"I see three or four," responded Shep. "Call Giant and Whopper."
The words had scarcely left his lips when Snap took aim and fired at one of the wolves, wounding it in the shoulder. The report of the shotgun brought Giant and Whopper to their feet without delay.
"What's up?" came from both.
"Wolves!" answered the leader of the club, laconically. "Get your guns!"
The shot had caused the wolves to fall back a little, and taking advantage of this, Snap reloaded the empty barrel of his shotgun and stirred up the fire still more.
Bang! went Shep's shotgun, and a wolf was taken directly in his throat. He turned to run away and then fell dead. Without hesitation his fellows fell upon him and rent the carcass asunder.
"What horrible cannibals!" muttered Whopper. "Say, how do you like that?" he went on, and fired a bullet from the rifle into the mass of wolves, hitting one in the leg and another in the side. The first wolf was merely wounded but the second was killed.
The death of another of their band made the other wolves retreat and they kept away for fully a quarter of an hour. But then their numbers were increased by the arrival of more equally hungry, and they came on in a wide semi-circle, as if to pounce upon the four boy hunters and eat them up.
"Shoot 'em—don't let 'em come any closer!" called out Whopper, and banged away with his shotgun, hitting a wolf in the breast. Then the others fired and another of the ugly beasts went down. Still another was wounded just sufficiently to make him ugly, and with bloodshot eyes he leaped straight into the camp and at Snap's very feet!
It was a moment of extreme peril, and for the instant Snap's heart seemed to stop beating. Then little Giant turned swiftly and pulled the trigger of his shotgun and sent the load into the wolf's ear. There was one short yelp, a leap of agony, and the wolf landed in the fire, dead, scattering the burning embers in all directions.
"Good for you, Giant!" cried Snap, when he could speak. He caught the dead wolf and threw the body among the trees.
"Fix that fire up!" yelled Whopper. "It's our best protection!"
He ran for some sticks, and they built the fire into a roaring blaze that illuminated the forest for a considerable distance. Then Shep and Whopper fired more shots, wounding two more wolves, and the pack slowly retreated, growling and howling savagely.
"What an attack!" said Whopper, wiping the cold perspiration from his forehead. "I don't want to experience another."
Further sleep was out of the question, and for the remainder of the night the boys kept a good fire going and watched all around the temporary camp for their enemies. But the wolves did not show themselves again.
"And now for Firefly Lake and Birch Tree Inn!" cried Shep, when they were preparing breakfast. "My! the Inn will seem like home, after such experiences as we have had!"
It was clear and mild, with hardly any wind blowing. As the sun came up it made the great drifts of snow glitter and sparkle in a manner which was dazzling.
"Oh, look!" screamed Giant, just as they were getting ready to set out. "There's a shot for somebody!" and he caught up his gun.
Over the spruce trees a flock of wild ducks were soaring, evidently searching for food. They came quite close, and all of the young hunters blazed away, in rapid succession. Six of the ducks came down, one so straight that it hit Whopper directly on the head, almost knocking him over.
"There's luck for you!" cried Snap, gleefully, "We've got a few ducks anyway."
They placed the game in their bags, and a few minutes later bade farewell to the shelter of the spruces. It was so clear they could see the distant hills and mountains with ease and Snap regulated the course accordingly.
Some of the snowdrifts were truly immense, one, they reckoned, measuring twenty feet in height. They had to proceed with care, for they did not want to break through and sink out of sight. Once Whopper fell over and it was all the others could do to set him straight on his snowshoes again.
They had thought to take almost a direct course to Firefly Lake, but after covering a mile found this impossible.
"We'll have to take something of a round-about way," said their leader. "It will be longer, but it can't be helped."
"That will bring us between Firefly Lake and Lake Cameron, won't it?" asked Giant.
"Yes."
They hurried on for another mile. It was certainly hard work and made them warm in spite of the lowness of the thermometer. Then they came to a big drift of snow and found it no mean task to get over the same.
"Hark I what was that?" said Shep.
"A gunshot," answered Whopper. "There goes another."
After that they heard several more shots, coming from some point ahead.
"Some other hunters must be out," said Snap. "Wonder who they can be?"
CHAPTER XXIV
A DISAGREEABLE MEETING
They had reached a point directly between Firefly Lake and Lake Cameron when they came to a little patch of woods surrounding a pond less than a hundred feet across. As they entered the woods they heard a slight noise and saw a small deer running swiftly across the snow on the pond. At once Whopper let drive and so did Snap, and the deer went down, kicked for a moment, and then lay still.
The game had been struck in the rump and in the neck, but there was another wound in one ear and still a fourth near the tail.
"Must have been hit before she came this way," said Giant.
As the young hunters surrounded the game they did not notice the
approach of three men on snow-shoes, all carrying guns and gamebags.
The three men were Andrew Felps and two of his particular friends,
Giles Faswig and Vance Lemon.
"Hi! what are you doing here?" demanded Andrew Felps, striding up angrily. "Didn't I warn you off of my land last summer? You have no right to hunt here."
"They have the deer!" put in Giles Faswig. "Hang the luck anyhow."
"Never mind, the deer belongs to us—it was shot on my land," muttered
Andrew Felps.
"Certainly it is your deer if it was shot on your land," put in Vance
Lemon.
The four boy hunters listened to the talk in considerable dismay.
Evidently the three men intended to appropriate the game.
"Is this your land?" asked Whopper.
"We didn't see any fence," put in Snap.
"The fences are there anyway—I had them put up last fall, after the fire. You have no right to even cross my land, much less do any shooting."
"Felps, ain't you going to claim the deer?" asked Giles Faswig.
"Certainly I am. But I want these young rascals to understand that they can't come on my land," answered the lumber dealer.
"Mr. Felps, we are not young rascals," said Shep, with flashing eyes. "We shot the deer in good faith and if you take it from us I shall consider it stealing."
"Listen to that!" ejaculated Vance Lemon. "And after we wounded the deer first, too!"
"I won't talk to you," cried Andrew Felps, savagely. "Leave that deer alone, and get off of my land as quick as you can—and stay off!"
His manner was so savage and threatening that the young hunters felt compelled to retreat. Yet they were very angry.
"Mr. Felps, I think you'll be sorry for this some day," said Snap. "When I get back to Fairview I shall tell everybody just how meanly you have acted."
"Hi! don't you threaten me!" roared the irate lumber dealer. "I know my business. You clear out—and be quick about it."
"I suppose you and your friends want our deer because you're not able to shoot one yourselves," called out Whopper, and with this parting shot the young hunters withdrew. All of the men shook their fists at the boys.
"Now, wouldn't that jar you!" exclaimed Shep, as they turned toward
Firefly Lake. "Did you ever hear of such meanness?"
"He's as bad as he was last summer, when he drove us away from Lake
Cameron," said Snap, bitterly.
For some time after that the young hunters were silent, each busy with his own thoughts. Driven away from the vicinity of Lake Cameron, they had to make another wide detour, and it was one o'clock before they came in sight of Firefly Lake, nestling so cozily among the hills.
"It will take at least an hour and a half to get down to the lake and up to camp," said Snap. "Shall we go on or stop for dinner?"
"I am as hungry as two bears," said Whopper. "Let us rest up a bit and get something to eat."
The others were willing, and soon a fire was blazing and over this they broiled one of the wild ducks. The meal and the rest occupied an hour and a half, but they all felt it was time well spent.
Their hearts beat rapidly as they walked down the hill to the edge of the lake. They had to pass a bend and then came in sight of the camp.
"The flag is down!" cried Giant, in some disappointment.
"I reckon the blizzard was too much for it," answered Snap. "But let that go, so long as the shelter itself is all right."
They almost broke into a run on the last quarter mile, so eager were they to see the condition of things. At last they caught sight of Birch Tree Inn. It looked to be exactly as they had left it.
"Thank fortune for that," began Shep, when Whopper uttered a cry.
"I really believe the doorway is open!"
The barrier to the doorway was certainly gone, and with hearts that fairly thumped in their breasts they ran for the shelter, to learn what this meant. All was dark inside and very cold, and with trembling fingers Snap struck a match and looked around for the acetylene bicycle lamp.
"It's gone!" he cried.
"And most of our things are gone too!" gasped Shep.
Then the match went out and they had to light another. A scrap of paper was found and some dry sticks, and they kindled a blaze, heaping up the fire so as to get as much light as possible.
"One sled is gone!"
"So are all the cooking utensils!"
"And the extra clothing!"
"And the grub!" wailed Whopper. "Not a bit of coffee, chocolate, sugar, or anything left!"
"Boys, this is awful!" wailed Giant. "Who could have done it?"
"Maybe the Ham Spink crowd."
"Or the Felps crowd."
"Or that tramp who made trouble for us before," came from Snap.
Then they made a more careful inspection—to find their skates also missing and—most precious of all—all the extra matches and extra ammunition.
"This is the worst blow of all," said the leader of the club, referring to the matches and the ammunition. "We can't stay here without ammunition and the wherewith to make a fire when we want it."
"What's to do?" asked Giant and Whopper, in a breath.
"Either catch the fellow who has stolen our things, or go home."
CHAPTER XXV
AT THE CAMP ONCE AGAIN
The announcement Snap made cast a gloom over all the boys. Each felt that their leader spoke the truth.
"Well, as I don't want to go home, I vote we go after the thief," said
Shep, who was the first to speak.
Fortunately not all of their stores had been taken—they had been too plentiful to pile on one sled—so they had enough left with which to get a substantial supper. But all of the boys did not wait for the meal.
"If we are going to follow that thief up we ought to do it right away," said Snap. "The more time that is wasted the less will be our chance of catching him. Shep, if you say so, we can go after him and leave Giant and Whopper to look after what is left here."
"Why can't I go along?" asked Giant.
"Two ought to stay here," said Snap. "And I've got another plan," he went on. "How much money have we got on hand?"
The amount was counted and found to be nearly five dollars.
"That's enough," said the leader. "If we can't find the thief, we can slip over to Riverside and buy the things we actually need. I wouldn't go to Fairview, because that would cause too much talk."
Snap and Shep put some provisions in their game bags, readjusted their snowshoes, and soon set off.
"Have you any idea when you will be back?" called Whopper after them.
"No—maybe not till to-morrow," was the answer.
In the deep snow it was easy to follow the direction the thief with the sled had taken, and they soon became convinced that but one person had done the deed.
Left to themselves, Whopper and Giant did what little they could to restore order to the camp. They saw that the thief must have remained in the shelter one or two days—probably during the blizzard. On leaving he had attempted to break down one wall of the place and ruin the chimney, but had not succeeded.
"They'll last as long as we want to stay," said Giant. "But how mean it was to try such things!"
In coming to the shelter Whopper had twisted his ankle and this hurt him not a little, and he was perfectly willing to rest the member all he could. Giant prepared supper and they ate it leisurely, in the meanwhile talking over the outlook from every point of view.
Morning found the two young hunters stirring early. There was little, however, to do, and they took their time over breakfast. Giant had found where a bag of beans had been spilled on the ground and he picked them up with care one by one.
"I think I'll make some bean soup for a change," he said. "I'll throw in some meat to give it a flavor."
"That rascal—whoever he was—took all the flour, otherwise we might make some pancakes," grumbled Whopper.
"I might try my hand at fishing through the ice again," said Giant.
"Baked fish will go fine for a change."
"Hadn't I better stay here, Giant? Somebody ought to mind the camp until Snap and Shep get back, and my ankle is quite swollen."
"Yes, stay by all means, and if you want me, yell or fire your gun."
So it was arranged, and after dinner Giant sallied forth, with the axe, which had not been confiscated, and his fishing lines and such bait as he could scrape together.
As Giant had found his former fishing place a good one he went to the same spot again. The snow was deep and he had to sweep it away with a spruce branch he cut for that purpose. Then he chopped a round hole in the ice as before, and sat down on some snow and the tree branch to wait for a bite.
Fishing proved slow, and it was a good quarter of an hour before he got a bite and then the fish slipped the hook just as he was hauling the catch to the surface. But he kept on and in an hour had a catch of three, all of fair size.
After that, however, try his best, he could not get another bite. Then he determined to go further down the lake, where there was another cove.
"There ought to be fish at the bottom of that cove," he told himself.
"And if there are, I am bound to have some."
Finding a spot that suited his fancy, he again swept off the snow and began to cut a hole in the ice. This proved quite a task, and by the time he had finished he was pretty well winded. He baited up and sat down on a bank of snow he had swept together.
Just then some noise reached his ears, and he looked around and listened. But the noise was not repeated.
"What could that have been?" he mused. "Some bird?"
He strained his ears, but the stillness of the forest lay all around the lake. Of a sudden Giant began to feel lonely, and he gave a little shiver. Then he braced up.
"Pshaw, I'm getting as nervous as a cat," he murmured. "And all on account of nothing. I'd better go to fishing and forget it."
He dropped in his line, properly baited, and waited for a bite. He was lucky, for soon up came a nice maskalonge. Then, a few minutes later, came a rock bass—something for which he had not been looking. He grew interested, and forgot all about the noise he had heard, until the cracking of some bushes caught his ears.
"There's that noise again," he muttered. "What in the world can it be?"
For the first time since leaving the shelter Giant wished he had brought along his shotgun. What if some game should suddenly appear?
"If a deer should come along and I couldn't shoot it, it would make me sick," he told himself. "And game is always sure to come along when you haven't a gun."
Giant had now seven fish, four of good size. He decided to wait for just one more, then wind up and go back to the shelter. It was rather cold sitting at the fishing hole and his feet were beginning to feel very much like the ice under them.
He had baited up with care, and allowed the line to sink almost to the bottom of the lake, when a fresh noise startled him. This was another crackling sound. There followed a low, suppressed growl, and turning in the direction of the shore Giant was horrified to see a big, black bear come lumbering into view!
"A bear! I'll have to get out of here!" he ejaculated, and snatching up his fish and line and the axe he started on a run for the shelter.
The bear came out on the ice and toward the hole. Then it smelt the fish, and a moment later started on a clumsy run after the fleeing youth!