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diff --git a/old/52386-0.txt b/old/52386-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index aced752..0000000 --- a/old/52386-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7688 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Gun Club Boys of Lakeport, by Edward -Stratemeyer - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: The Gun Club Boys of Lakeport - Or, The Island Camp - - -Author: Edward Stratemeyer - - - -Release Date: June 23, 2016 [eBook #52386] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GUN CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT*** - - -E-text prepared by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustration. - See 52386-h.htm or 52386-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52386/52386-h/52386-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52386/52386-h.zip) - - -Transcriber’s note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - - - - -[Illustration: The old hunter was at hand] - - -Lakeport Series - -THE GUN CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT - -Or - -The Island Camp - -by - -EDWARD STRATEMEYER - -Author of “The Baseball Boys of Lakeport,” “Dave Porter at Oak Hall,” -“Old Glory Series,” “Pan-American Series,” Etc. - -Illustrated - - - - - - - -[Illustration: (uncaptioned)] - -Boston -Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. - -Copyright, 1904, by A. S. Barnes & Co., under the Title -“The Island Camp.” -Copyright, 1908, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -This story is a complete tale in itself, and it also forms the first -volume of a series to be devoted to sport in the forest, on the water, -and on the athletic field. - -My object in writing this tale was two-fold: first, to present to the -boys a story which would please them, and, second, to give my young -readers an insight into Nature as presented in the depths of the forest -during the winter. - -The young hunters of Lakeport are no different from thousands of other -youths of to-day. Although they do some brave deeds, they are no heroes -in the accepted sense of that term, and at certain times they get scared -just as others might under similar circumstances. They are light-hearted -and full of fun, and not above playing some odd practical jokes upon -each other. In the old and experienced hunter, who goes with them on -this never-to-be-forgotten outing, they find a companion exactly to -their liking, and one who teaches them not a few “points” about hunting -that are worth knowing. - -The scene of this tale is laid in one of our eastern states. A few years -ago small game of all kinds was plentiful there, and deer, moose, and -even bears, could also be laid low. But some of the larger animals are -fast disappearing, and it is now only a question of time when they will -be wiped out altogether. This seems a great pity; but the march of the -lumberman and the progress of the farmer cannot be stayed. - - Edward Stratemeyer. - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. What Happened in a Snowstorm 1 - II. The Dugans to the Rescue 12 - III. A Fruitless Search 24 - IV. Skating 37 - V. A Quarrel on the Ice 44 - VI. Organizing the Club 56 - VII. The First Day in Camp 71 - VIII. What Happened at Night 83 - IX. At a Deer Hunt 95 - X. Among the Wolves 104 - XI. Confronted by the Enemy 116 - XII. Driven from the Lodge 125 - XIII. Lost in a Blizzard 137 - XIV. The Enemy Asks a Favor 149 - XV. A Midnight Visitor 161 - XVI. Back to the Lodge 173 - XVII. A Search and a Bear 185 - XVIII. A Fire, and What Followed 197 - XIX. A Gathering of Young Hunters 209 - XX. Building the New Shelter 219 - XXI. The Fight of the Pine Martens 229 - XXII. Teddy Meets “The Indians” 239 - XXIII. Pike Spearing through the Ice 249 - XXIV. A Battle with a Wolverene 261 - XXV. Teddy Evens the Score 270 - XXVI. The House in the Woods 279 - XXVII. A Plan for a Capture 286 - XXVIII. The Last of the Tramps 294 - XXIX. A Great Moose Hunt 303 - XXX. The Find—End of the Outing 312 - - - - - THE GUN CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT - - - - - CHAPTER I - WHAT HAPPENED IN A SNOWSTORM - - -“How many miles have we still to go, Harry?” - -“I think about four,” answered Harry Westmore, as he looked around him -on the country road he and his brother were traveling. “I must say, I -didn’t think the walk would be such a long one, did you?” - -“No, I thought we’d be back home before this,” came from Joe Westmore. -“I wish we could find some sort of a signboard. For all we know, we may -be on the wrong road.” - -“There used to be signboards on all of these roads, but I heard Joel -Runnell tell that some tramps had torn them down and used them for -firewood.” - -“Yes, they did it for that, and I guess they took ’em down so that folks -could miss their way, too. Those tramps are not above waylaying folks -and making them give up all they’ve got in their pockets.” - -“I believe you there. But since Sheriff Clowes rounded up about a dozen -of ’em last month they have kept themselves scarce. Phew! How the wind -blows!” - -“Yes, and how the snow is coming down! If we are not careful, we’ll not -get home at all. I hadn’t any idea it was going to snow when we left -home.” - -“I’m afraid if we don’t get home by dark mother will worry about us.” - -“Oh, she knows we are old enough to take care of ourselves. If it snows -too hard we can seek shelter at the next farmhouse we come to and wait -until it clears off.” - -The two Westmore boys, of whom Joe was the older by a year and a day, -had left their home at Lakeport early that morning for a long tramp into -the country after some late fall nuts which a friend had told them were -plentiful at a locality known as Glasby’s Hill. They knew the Hill was a -long way off, but had not expected such a journey to get to it. The -bridge was down over one of the country streams and this had -necessitated a walk of over a mile to another bridge, and here the road -was not near as good as that on which they had been traveling. Then, -after the nuts were found and two fair-sized bags gathered, it had begun -to snow and blow, until now the wind was sailing by them at a great rate -and the snow was coming down so fast that it threatened to obliterate -the landscape around them. - -The Westmore family were six in number, Mr. Horace Westmore and his -wife, the boys just introduced, and two younger children named Laura and -Bessie. Mr. Westmore was a flour and feed dealer, and had the principal -establishment of that kind in Lakeport, at the lower end of Pine Lake. -While the merchant was not rich, he was fairly well-to-do, and the -family moved in the best society that the lake district afforded. On -Mrs. Westmore’s side there had once been much wealth, but an unexpected -turn of fortune had left her father almost penniless at his death. There -was a rumor that the dead man had left to his daughter the rights to a -valuable tract of land located at the head of the lake, but though Mr. -Westmore tried his best he could not establish any such claim. The land -was there, held by a miserly real estate dealer of Brookside named Hiram -Skeetles; but Skeetles declared that the property was his own, free and -clear, and that Mrs. Westmore’s father had never had any right to it -whatsoever. - -“What’s mine is mine, and don’t ye go for to forgit it!” Hiram Skeetles -had snarled, during his last interview with Horace Westmore on the -subject. “Ye ain’t got nary a slip o’ paper to show it ever belonged to -Henry Anderson. I don’t want ye to bother me no more. If ye do, I’ll -have the law on ye!” And Mr. Westmore had come away feeling that the -case was decidedly a hopeless one. - -“It’s a shame mother and father can’t bring old Skeetles to time,” had -been Joe’s comment, when he heard of the interview. “I wouldn’t trust -that old skinflint to do the square thing.” - -“Nor I,” had come from Harry. “But if Grandfather Anderson had any deeds -or other papers what did he do with them?” - -“I’m sure I don’t know. Mother said she saw some papers once—years ago, -when she was a young girl—but she never saw them after that,” had been -Joe’s comment; and there the subject had been dropped. - -With their bags of nuts over their shoulders the two boys continued to -trudge along in the direction of home. The loads had not seemed heavy at -starting, but now each bag was a dead weight that grew harder to carry -at every step. - -“Let us rest for awhile,” said Joe, at length. “I must have a chance to -get my wind.” - -“Isn’t there wind enough flying around loose,” returned his brother, -with a faint grin. “Just open your mouth wide and you’ll gather in pure, -unadulterated ozone by the barrelful.” - -“It’s the wind that’s taking my wind, Harry. I feel as if I’d been -rowing a two-mile race, or just made a home run on the baseball field.” - -“Or a touchdown on the gridiron, eh? Say, but that last game of football -with the Fordhams was great, wasn’t it?” - -The two boys had moved on a few steps further, and now, through the -flying snow, caught sight of a dilapidated barn standing close to the -roadway. - -“Hurrah! here’s a shelter, made to order!” cried Joe. “Let us go in and -take a quarter of an hour’s rest.” - -“Yes, and eat a few of the nuts,” added Harry. “My! but ain’t I hungry. -I’m going to eat all there is on the table when I get home.” - -“Then you wouldn’t refuse a mince pie right now, would you?” - -At this question Harry gave a mock groan. “Please don’t mention it! -You’ll give me palpitation of the heart. If you’ve got a mince pie -tucked away in your vest pocket, trot it out.” - -“Wish I had. But stop talking and come into the barn. It isn’t a -first-class hotel, but it’s a hundred per cent. better than nothing, -with a fraction added.” - -Like many a similar structure, the old barn had no door or window on the -road side, so they had to go around to the back to get in. As they -turned the corner of the building they caught sight of two men who stood -in the tumble-down doorway. The men were rough-looking individuals and -shabbily dressed, and when they saw them the lads came to a halt. - -“Hullo, who are you?” demanded one of the men, who possessed a head of -tangled red hair and an equally tangled red beard. - -“We were traveling on the road and came around here for a little shelter -from the storm,” answered Joe. He did not like the appearance of the two -tramps—for such they were—and neither did Harry. - -At the explanation the tramp muttered something which the two boys did -not catch. At the same time a third tramp came forth from the barn, -wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. - -“Maybe they’re from that farm back here,” he said, with a jerk of his -head over the shoulder. “I believe there was a couple o’ boys up there.” - -“No, we’re not from any farm,” answered Harry. “We come from Lakeport.” - -“What have ye in them bags?” put in the tramp who had not yet spoken. - -“Nuts. We have been out nutting.” - -“Humph! Thought as how nuts was all gone by this time.” - -“We heard of a spot that hadn’t been visited,” said Joe. He looked at -his brother significantly. “Guess we had better be moving on.” - -“Oh, don’t hurry yourselves, gents,” came quickly from the tramp with -the red and tangled beard. “Come in an’ rest all yer please. We’re -keepin’ open house to-day,” and he gave a low laugh. - -“Thank you, but we haven’t a great deal of time to spare,” said Harry. -“Come, Joe,” he went on, and started to move toward the roadway once -more. - -He had scarcely taken two steps when the tramp with the red beard caught -him by the shoulder. - -“Don’t go,” he said pointedly. “Come in an’ warm up. We’ve got a bit o’ -a fire in there.” - -“A fire?” queried Harry, not knowing what else to say. “Aren’t you -afraid you’ll burn the barn down?” - -“Not much! Even if she went, the buildin’ ain’t worth much. Come on in.” - -The tramp had a firm grip on Harry’s arm by this time and now the other -two got between Joe and the roadway. - -It must be confessed that the two lads were much dismayed. As already -noted, they knew that folks in that neighborhood had been waylaid by -tramps in the past, and they now felt that a similar experience was in -store for them. How to get out of such a dilemma was a serious question. - -“We don’t want to stop with you,” said Joe, as sharply as he could, -although his heart beat violently. “Let me pass, please.” - -“But we ain’t goin’ to let yer pass just yet, young feller,” said one of -the tramps. “Come on in an’ be sociable.” - -“We don’t mean for to hurt ye!” put in another. “So don’t git scart. If -ye belong down to Lakeport we’ll treat yer right.” - -“We don’t wish to stay, I tell you,” went on Joe. “Let me pass, do you -hear?” - -“And let me go, too,” added Harry. He tried to twist himself loose but -could not, for the tramp was strong and had a good clutch. - -“Peppery youngsters,” drawled the tramp with the red hair. “Got to teach -’em manners, I guess. Shove ’em into the barn, boys. There don’t seem to -be nobuddy else around, an’ it looks like we had run up against a real -good thing!” - -“Do you mean to say that you intend to rob us?” cried Joe, as he -struggled to free himself from the man who had him by the collar. - -“Rob yer? Who said anything ’bout robbin’ yer? We’re honest men, we are! -Come on inside, an’ behave yerself!” - -And with this Joe was shoved toward the barn door. He tried to struggle, -but it was useless. Using brute force the tramps almost pitched him -inside, and Harry followed in a similar manner. Then the tramp with the -red beard set up the broken-down door before the opening and stood on -guard with a club in his hand. - - - - - CHAPTER II - THE DUGANS TO THE RESCUE - - -It was a situation which no boy would care to confront, and as Joe and -Harry looked from one brutal face to another, their hearts sank within -them. They could see at a glance that the tramps were among the worst of -their class and would hesitate at little or nothing to accomplish their -ends. - -To one side of the barn, where the flooring had rotted away, a fire was -burning, the smoke drifting forth through a broken-out window and the -numerous holes in the roof. Beside the fire lay the remains of two -chickens, which the tramps had probably stolen from some farmer’s -hen-roost. Three soda water bottles were also on the floor, but there -was no telling what they had contained, since all were empty. But as the -breath of each tramp smelt strongly of liquor, it is safe to say that -the bottles had contained—at least one of them—something stronger than a -temperance drink. - -“See here, you haven’t any right to treat us in this fashion,” said Joe, -as soon as he could recover from the attack which had been made upon -him. - -“You ain’t got no right to call us thieves,” was the answer, and the -speaker leered in a knowing manner at his fellows. - -“That’s it,” spoke up another of the tramps. “It’s a downright insult to -honest men like us.” - -“Thet’s wot it is,” came from the third tramp. “Boys, yer ought to -’polergize.” - -“I want you to let us go,” went on Joe. - -“Right away,” put in Harry. “If you don’t——” - -“If we don’t,—what?” demanded the tramp who stood guard with the club. - -“It may be the worse for you, that’s all.” - -At this all three of the tramps set up a low laugh. Then the fellow at -the doorway called one of the others to his side and whispered something -in his ear. - -“Dat’s all right, Noxy; but I don’t care to go until I see wot we -strike,” answered the man addressed. - -“Oh, you’ll get your fair share, Stump,” was the answer, but Stump -refused to leave even when urged a second time. - -“Say, just you tell us wot time it is,” put in the other tramp, who went -by the name of Muley. He had noticed that Joe carried a watch—a silver -affair, given to him by his father on his last birthday. - -“It’s time you let us go,” answered Joe. He understood perfectly well -what the fellow was after. - -He had scarcely spoken when Muley stepped forward and grabbed the watch -chain. The watch came with it, and despite Joe’s clutch for his property -it was quickly transferred to the tramp’s possession. - -“Give me that watch!” - -“They are nothing but robbers!” burst out Harry. “Joe, let us get out -right away!” - -Unable to pass the tramp at the doorway, Harry made for one of the barn -windows, and feeling it would be useless to argue just then about the -timepiece, Joe followed his brother. - -“Hi, stop ’em!” roared Stump. “Don’t let ’em get away!” - -Instantly all three of the tramps went after the two lads. Muley was the -quickest of the number and in a trice he had placed himself in front of -the window. - -“Not so fast!” he sang out. “We want what you have in your pockets -first!” - -Cut off from escape by the window, the two boys turned around. They now -saw that the doorway was unguarded, and ran for the opening with all -speed. Harry reached the door first and tumbled it aside, and both ran -into the open. - -“Stop!” yelled Noxy. “Stop, or we’ll fix ye!” And then, his foot -catching in a loose board of the flooring, he pitched headlong, and -Stump and Muley came down on top of him. - -“Run, Harry, run, or they’ll catch us sure!” cried Joe. - -Harry needed no urging, and in a minute the two lads were on the roadway -once again and running harder than they had ever done in any footrace. -For the moment they forgot how tired they had been, and fear possibly -gave them additional strength. - -“Ar—are the—they coming?” panted Harry, after quarter of a mile had been -covered. - -“I don’t—don’t know!” puffed his brother. “Do—don’t se—see anything of -’em.” - -“What mean rascals, Joe!” - -“Yes, they ought to be in jail!” - -The boys continued to run, but as nobody appeared to be following they -gradually slackened their pace and at length came to a halt. - -“Joe, I’m almost ready to drop.” - -“So am I, but we had better not stop here. Let us keep on until we reach -some farmhouse. I’m going to get back my watch and chain if I can.” - -“And the nuts. Think of losing them after all the trouble we had in -gathering them.” - -“Yes, Harry, but the watch and chain are worth more than the nuts. If -you’ll remember, they were my birthday present from father.” - -“Oh, we’ve got to get back the watch and chain. Come on—the sooner we -find a farmhouse and get assistance the better. More than likely those -tramps won’t stay at the barn very long.” - -Scarcely able to drag one foot after the other, the two Westmore boys -continued on their way. The snow had now stopped coming down, yet the -keen fall wind was as sharp as ever. But presently the wind shifted and -then they made better progress. - -“I see a farmhouse!” cried Harry, a little later. - -“Not much of a place,” returned his brother. “Yet we may get help -there,—who knows?” - -When the cottage—it was no more than that—was reached, Joe knocked -loudly on the door. - -“Who is there?” came in a shrill voice from inside. - -“Two boys,” answered Joe. “We want help, for some tramps have robbed -us.” - -“I can’t help you. The tramps robbed me, too—stole two of my best -chickens. I’m an old man and I must watch my property. You go to -Neighbor Dugan’s—he’ll help you, maybe.” - -“Where is Dugan’s place?” - -“Down the road a spell. Keep right on an’ you can’t miss it.” And that -was all the boys could get out of the occupant of the cottage. - -“He must be a crabbed old chap,” was Harry’s comment, as they resumed -their weary tramp. - -“Well, an old man can’t do much, especially if he is living all alone. I -suppose he’s afraid to leave his place for fear the tramps will visit it -during his absence,” and in this surmise Joe was correct. - -Fortunately the farm belonging to Andy Dugan was not far distant. The -farmer was a whole-souled Irishman and both boys had met him on more -than one occasion at Mr. Westmore’s store. - -“Sure, an’ where did you b’ys spring from?” said Dugan, on opening the -door. “’Tis a likely walk ye are from town.” - -“We’ve been out for some nuts, over to Glasby’s Hill,” answered Harry. - -“Ah now, so ye’ve got there before me, eh? I didn’t know ’twas known -there was nuts there.” - -“Mr. Dugan, we want your help,” put in Joe, quickly. - -“Phat for, Joe—to help carry home the nuts? Where’s the bags?” - -“We met some tramps, and——” - -“Tramps? On this road ag’in?” Andy Dugan was all attention and his face -grew sober. “Tell me about thim at onct!” - -The boys entered the farmhouse, where were collected the Dugan family, -consisting of Mrs. Dugan, who weighed about two hundred and fifty -pounds, and seven children, including three half-grown sons. All -listened with close attention to what the Westmore boys had to relate. - -“Th’ schamps!” cried Andy Dugan. “Sure an’ they should be in the town -jail! An’ was the watch an’ chain worth much?” - -“Twelve or fifteen dollars. And a birthday present, too.” - -“I’ll go after thim, that I will. Pat, git me gun, and you go an’ take -yer own gun, too—an’, Teddy, git the pistol, an’ see if it’s after bein’ -loaded. We’ll tache thim scallywags a lisson, so we will!” - -“That’s the talk, Mr. Dugan!” said Joe, brightening. “But you’ll have to -hurry, or they’ll be gone.” - -“I’ll hurry all I can, lad. But phat about you? You’re too tired to walk -back, ain’t ye?” - -“Lit thim roide the mare, Andy,” came from Mrs. Dugan. “Th’ mare wants -exercise annyway.” - -“So they shall, Caddy,” answered the husband, and one of the smaller -boys of the family was sent to bring the mare forth. - -In less than ten minutes the party was ready to set out, Andy Dugan and -his son Pat with guns, Teddy, who boasted of a face that was nothing but -a mass of freckles, with the pistol, and Joe and Harry, on the mare’s -back, with clubs. - -The mare was rather a frisky creature, and both boys had all they could -do to make her walk along as they wished. - -“She’s been in the sthable too long,” explained Andy Dugan. “She wants a -run av a couple o’ miles to take the dancin’ out av her heels.” - -“Well, she mustn’t run now,” said Harry, who had no desire to reach the -old barn before the others could come up. - -The wind was gradually going down, so journeying along the road was more -agreeable than it had been. When they passed the little cottage they saw -the old man peeping from behind a window shutter at them. - -“He’s a quare sthick, so he is,” said Andy Dugan. “But, as he is afther -lavin’ us alone, we lave him alone.” - -The party advanced upon the barn boldly and when they were within a -hundred yards of the structure, Joe and Harry urged the mare ahead. Up -flew the rear hoofs of the steed and away she went pell-mell along the -road. - -“Whoa! whoa!” roared Joe. “Whoa, I say!” - -But the mare did not intend to whoa, and reaching the barn, she flew by -like a meteor, much to the combined chagrin of the riders. Joe was in -front, holding the reins, and Harry in the rear, with his arms about his -brother’s waist. Both kept bouncing up and down like twin rubber balls. - -“Do stop her, Joe!” - -“Whoa!” repeated Joe. “Whoa! Confound the mare, she won’t listen to me!” - -“She is running away with us!” - -“Well, if she is, I can’t help it.” - -“Pull in on the reins.” - -“That’s what I am doing—just as hard as I can.” - -“Hi! hi!” came in Andy Dugan’s voice. “Phy don’t ye sthop? Ain’t this -the barn ye was afther spakin’ about?” - -“Yes!” yelled back Joe. “But your mare won’t stop!” - -“Hit her on th’ head wid yer fist!” screamed Pat Dugan. - -“I don’t believe that will stop her,” said Harry. - -“Perhaps it will, if she’s used to it,” said his brother, and an instant -later landed a blow straight between the mare’s ears. - -Up went the creature’s hind quarters in a twinkling and over her head -shot the two boys, to land in the snow and brushwood beside the roadway. -Then the mare shied to one side and pranced down the road, and soon a -turn hid her from view. - - - - - CHAPTER III - A FRUITLESS SEARCH - - -“B’ys! b’ys! Are ye after bein’ hurted?” - -It was Andy Dugan who asked the question, as he came rushing to Joe and -Harry’s assistance and helped to set them on their feet. - -“I—I guess I’m all right, Mr. Dugan,” panted Harry. “But I—I thought my -neck was broken at first!” - -“So did I,” put in Joe. His left hand was scratched but otherwise he was -unharmed. - -“Oh, father, the mare’s run away!” chimed in Teddy Dugan. “We won’t -never git her back anymore!” - -“Hould yer tongue!” answered the parent. “She’ll come back as soon as -it’s feedin’ time, don’t worry.” - -“Oh, father, are you sure?” - -“To be course I am. Didn’t she run away twice before, an’ come back that -same way, Teddy? Come on after thim tramps an’ let the mare take care av -hersilf.” - -“We’ve made noise enough to bring the tramps out—if they’re still in the -barn,” was Joe’s comment. “I believe they’ve gone.” - -“Exactly my opinion,” answered Harry. - -Advancing boldly to the doorway of the barn, Andy Dugan pointed his gun -and cried: - -“Come out av there, ye rascals! Sure an’ it won’t do ye any good to -hide!” - -To this demand no answer was returned, and a moment of painful silence -followed. - -“Are ye comin’ out or not?” went on Dugan the elder. “Answer me.” - -“How can they answer, father, if they ain’t there?” put in Teddy Dugan, -with a broad smile on his freckled face. - -To this query the father made no reply, but advancing cautiously, he -gazed into the barn and then stepped inside. - -“Are they there, Mr. Dugan?” queried Joe. - -“If they are, they’re mighty good at hidin’.” - -“Let us make a search,” said Harry. “Pat, you remain on guard outside.” - -“That I will,” answered Pat. “Run ’em out here till I shoot ’em first, -an’ have ’em arrested afterwards!” - -The barn was speedily searched, but the tramps had taken their -departure, and soon they discovered the track of the rascals, leading -across the fields to another road. - -“I believe they left almost as soon as we did,” said Joe. “They knew -we’d come back with help.” - -“Shall we follow?” asked Harry. - -“Av course,” replied Andy Dugan. - -“It’s getting rather dark,” went on Joe. “I’m afraid they have given us -the slip.” - -The matter was talked over, and it was decided that all of the Dugans -should go forward, and Joe and Harry were to follow if they could find -the mare. If not, they were to tramp back to the Dugan homestead and -await news. - -Half an hour was spent by the two boys in looking for the runaway steed, -and by that time both could hardly walk. - -“I wish I was at the Dugan house this instant,” said Harry. - -“Ditto myself, Harry. And I wish I had my watch and chain back. Did you -notice, the tramps didn’t touch the bags of nuts.” - -“I guess they were too excited to remember them. Maybe they thought we’d -come back quicker than we did.” - -The boys rested for awhile at the barn, and then, with their bags of -nuts on their shoulders, set out on the roadway once again. - -“Tired out, are ye,” said Mrs. Dugan, on seeing them. “Where are the -others?” - -They told their story, to which she listened with many a nod of her -head. - -“The ould b’y take that mare!” she cried. “Sure an’ didn’t she run away -wid me wance an’ nearly scare me to death, so she did. Andy must trade -her th’ furst chanct he gits.” - -She had prepared a hot supper and invited the boys to sit down, which -they did willingly, for, as Harry expressed it, “they were hollow clear -down to their shoes.” - -The meal was just finished when one of the little children, who was at -the window gazing into the oncoming darkness, set up a shout: - -“There’s Kitty now!” - -“Who’s Kitty?” asked Joe. - -“Sure an it’s the mare. She’s walkin’ in the yard just as if nothin’ had -happened at all!” - -The youngster was right, and by the time the boys were outside the mare -was standing meekly by the barn door, waiting to be put in her stall. - -“Now ain’t she aggravatin’?” came from Mrs. Dugan. “Ye can’t bate her -when she looks loike that, can ye? Poor Kitty! It’s a fool thing that ye -are entoirely!” And she hurried out, opened the stable and let the mare -find her proper place inside. “Fer sech a thrick, ye’ll git only half -yer supper this night,” she added, shaking her fist at the animal. - -The boys knew that they would be expected home, and waited anxiously for -news of the Dugans. Fully an hour and a half passed, before they came -back, worn out and downcast. - -“They give us the shlip,” said Andy Dugan. “They came around be the lake -road an’ thet’s the last we could find av thim.” - -“And I guess that’s the last of my watch,” added Joe, soberly. - -Andy Dugan had a faithful old horse in his stable and this animal he -harnessed to his family carriage, an old affair that had seen far better -days. - -“Ye can drive yerselves home,” he said. “An’ leave the turnout at -Bennett’s stable. Tell him I’ll call for it to-morrow.” - -“Thank you, Mr. Dugan,” said Joe. “We’ll settle for the keeping, and get -father to pay you——” - -“That’s all right, Joe. I want no pay. Your father is a fri’nd av mine. -I’m sorry we didn’t catch the thramps, that’s all,” was Andy Dugan’s -reply. - -It was not until nine o’clock at night that Joe and Harry drove into the -town of Lakeport. All the stores were closed, but the livery stable was -still open, and there they left the horse and carriage, as Andy Dugan -had directed. It was but a short walk from the stable to the house. - -“I thought you would be back to supper,” said Mrs. Westmore, when they -entered. “I kept everything hot for over an hour.” - -“We’ve had an adventure, mother,” answered Joe, and as the family -gathered around he told his story. - -“Oh, Joe, weren’t you awfully scared!” cried Laura. - -“I don’t like tramps at all!” piped in little Bessie. - -“This is certainly an outrage,” said Mr. Westmore. “So the Dugans could -find no trace of them after they got on the lake road?” - -“No.” - -“I must have one of the constables look into this, and I’ll notify -Sheriff Clowes, too.” - -“You can be thankful that the tramps did not injure you,” said Mrs. -Westmore, with a shudder. - -“Yes, I am thankful for that,” said Harry. - -“So am I, mother,” added Joe. “Just the same, I’m downright sorry to -lose that watch and chain.” - -“Perhaps we’ll get on the track of it. If not, we’ll have to see what we -can do about getting you another,” added the fond mother. - -The fact that Joe and Harry had been held up by tramps was speedily -noised around the town, and for the next few days the authorities and -several other people did what they could to locate the evildoers. But -the tramps had made good their escape, and, for the time being nothing -more was heard from them. But they were destined to turn up again, and -in a most unexpected fashion, as the pages to follow will testify. - -Joe and Harry had many friends in Lakeport, boys who went to school with -them, and who played with them on the local baseball and football teams. -All of these were interested in the “hold-up,” as they called it, and -anxious to see the tramps captured. - -“Glad it wasn’t me,” said one of the lads. - -“I’ve got a gold watch—one my uncle left when he died.” - -“Why didn’t you punch their heads?” questioned another, who had quite a -reputation as an all-around athlete. “That is what I should have done.” - -“Yes, and maybe got killed for doing it,” came from a third. “Joe and -Harry were sharp enough to escape with whole skins, and that is where -they showed their levelheadedness.” - -The adventure had happened on Saturday, and Monday found the boys at -school as usual. They were so anxious to get news concerning the tramps -that they could scarcely learn their lessons, but as day after day went -by without news, this feeling wore away; and presently the incident was -almost forgotten. - -It was customary at Lakeport to close the schools for about a month -around the winter holidays and all of the pupils counted the days to -when the vacation would begin. At last the time came, and with a whoop, -Joe, Harry, and several dozen other lads rushed forth, not to return -until near the end of January. - -“And now for Christmas!” cried Joe. Deep down in his heart he was -wondering if he would get another watch and chain. - -Ice had already formed on Pine Lake, but just before Christmas it began -to snow and blow heavily, so that skating was out of the question. This -put something of a damper on the lads and they went around feeling -somewhat blue. - -Christmas morning dawned bright and fair. The ground was covered with -over a foot of snow, and the merry jingle of sleighbells filled the air. - -As may be surmised the Westmore boys were up early. There were many -presents to be given and received, and it was a time of great surprises -and not a little joy. - -What pleased Joe most of all was the new watch he received. It was -decidedly better than the first watch had been, and so was the chain -better than the other. - -“Just what I wanted!” he declared. “It tops all the presents—not but -what I like them, too,” he added, hastily. - -Harry had slipped off without the others noticing. Now he came back, his -face aglow with enthusiasm. - -“Oh, Joe, what do you think?” he cried. “The wind has swept Pine Lake as -clean as a whistle.” - -“If that’s the case, Harry, we can go skating this morning instead of -waiting until after dinner. But how do you know the ice on the lake is -clear?” - -“Didn’t I just come from there?” Harry held up a shining pair of -nickel-plated skates. “Couldn’t resist trying ’em, you know. Say, it was -just all right of Uncle Maurice to give each of us a pair, wasn’t it?” - -“It certainly was,” returned Joe. “But I rather think I love that -double-barreled shotgun a little better. I am fairly aching to give it a -trial on a bird or a rabbit, or something larger.” - -“Well, as for that, I don’t go back on the camera Aunt Laura sent up -from New York. Fred Rush was telling me it was a very good one, and he -ought to know, for he has had four.” - -“What did Fred get for Christmas’?” - -“A shotgun something like yours, a big bobsled, some books, and a whole -lot of other things. One book is on camping out, and he is just crazy to -go. He says a fellow could camp out up at Pine Island, and have a -bang-up time.” - -“To be sure!” ejaculated Joe, enthusiastically. “Just the thing! If he -goes I’m going, too!” - -“You don’t know yet if father will let you go. He says no boy should go -hunting without some old hunter with him.” - -“I’m seventeen,” answered Joe, drawing himself up to his full height; he -was rather tall for his age. “And Fred is almost as old. I reckon we -could take care of ourselves.” - -“If I went I’d like to take my camera,” said Harry. “I was reading an -article in the paper the other day about how to hunt game with a -snap-shot machine. That would just suit me. Think of what a famous -collection of pictures I might get—wild turkeys, deer and maybe a -bear——” - -“If you met a bear I don’t think you’d stand to take his photograph. -I’ll wager you’d leg it for all you were worth—or else shoot at him. But -come on. If skating is so good there is no use of our wasting time here -talking,” concluded Joe, as he moved off. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - SKATING - - -Lakeport was a thriving town with a large number of inhabitants. Early -as it was many people were out, and nearly every passer-by was greeted -with a liberal dose of snowballs, for the lads of this down-East town -were as fun-loving as are boys anywhere, and to leave a “good mark” slip -past unnoticed was considered nothing short of a crime. - -When Joe and Harry reached the lake front they found a crowd of fully -fifty men and boys, with a fair sprinkling of girls, engaged in skating -and in ice-boating. The majority of the people were in the vicinity of -the steamboat dock, for this was at the end of the main street, and a -great “hanging-out” spot during the summer. But others were skating up -the lake shore, and a few were following Dan Marcy’s new ice yacht, -_Silver Queen_, as she tacked along on her way to the west shore, where -an arm of the lake encircled the lower end of Pine Island. - -“Marcy’s going to try to beat the lake record,” Joe heard one boy call -to another. “He says his new boat has got to knock the spots out of -anything that ever sailed on the lake, or he’ll chop her up for -firewood.” - -“Well, she’ll have to hum along if she beats the time made by the old -_Whizzer_ last winter,” came from the other boy. “She sailed from the -big pine to Hallett’s Point in exactly four minutes and ten seconds. My, -but didn’t she scoot along!” - -It took but a few minutes for Joe and Harry to don their skates. As they -left the shore they ran into Fred Rush, who was swinging along as if his -very life depended upon it. - -“Hello, so you fellows have come down at last!” sang out Fred, who was -short and stout, and as full of fun as a lad can be. “Thought you had -made up your mind to go to bed again, or stay home and look for more -Christmas presents. Been having dead loads of fun—had a race and come in -second best, got knocked down twice, slipped on the ice over yonder, and -got a wet foot in a hole some fellow cut, and Jerry Little hit me in the -shin with his hockey stick. Say, but you fellows are positively missing -the time of your lives.” - -“I want to miss it, if I’m going to have all those things happen to me,” -returned Joe, dryly. Then he added: “Harry tells me you got a -double-barreled shotgun almost like mine. How do you like it?” - -“Like it? Say, that gun is the greatest thing that ever happened. I -tried it just before I came down to skate—fired both barrels at once, -because I didn’t have time to fire ’em separately. It knocked me flat, -and a snowbank was all that saved my life. But she’s a dandy. I’m going -to bring down a bear with that gun before the winter is over, you see if -I don’t.” - -“How are you going to do it?” put in Harry. “Offer to let the animal -shoot off the gun, and kill him that way?” - -“Don’t you make fun of me, Harry. You’ll see the bear sooner or later, -mark the remark.” - -The three boys skated off, hand in hand, with Fred in the center. The -fun-loving youth was the only son of the town hardware dealer, and he -and the Westmore lads had grown up together from childhood. At school -Fred had proved himself far from being a dunce, but by some manner of -means he was almost constantly in “hot water;” why, nobody could -explain. - -“Let Fred Rush pick up a poker, and he’ll get the hot end in his hand,” -said one of the girls one day, and this remark came close to hitting the -nail squarely on the head. Yet with all his trials and tribulations Fred -rarely lost his temper, and he was always ready to promise better things -for the future. - -The boys skated a good half mile up the lake shore. At this point they -met several girls, and one of them, Cora Runnell, asked Joe if he would -fix her skate for her. - -“Certainly I will,” replied the youth, and on the instant he was -kneeling on the ice and adjusting a clamp that had become wedged fast to -the shoe plate of the skate. Cora was the daughter of an old hunter and -trapper of that vicinity, and as he worked Joe asked her what her father -was doing. - -“He isn’t doing anything just now,” was the girl’s answer. “He was out -acting as a guide for a party of New York sportsmen, but they went back -to the city last week.” - -“Did you hear him say anything about game?” - -“Yes, he said the season was a very good one. The party got six deer -over at Rawson Hill and a moose at Bender’s, and any quantity of small -game. I think pa’s going out alone in a day or two—just to see what he -can bring down for the market at Brookside.” - -“I wish he’d take me along. I’ve got a new double-barreled shotgun that -I want to try the worst way.” - -“And I’ve got one, too,” broke in Fred. “I’m sure we could bring down -lots of game between us.” - -Cora Runnell looked at the stout youth, and began to giggle. “Oh, dear, -if you went along I guess pa’d have to hide behind a tree when you took -your turn at shooting.” - -“Whoop, you’re discovered, Fred!” burst out Harry. “Cora must have heard -how you shot off both barrels at once, and——” - -“Oh, I can shoot straight enough,” came doggedly from Fred. “Just you -give me the chance and see.” - -“Well, you’ll have to see pa about going out with him,” answered Cora, -and then started to skate after her girl friends, who had moved off a -minute before, and were getting farther and farther away. - -“Hi, there!” came suddenly in a shout from the lake shore. “Beware of -the ice boat!” - -“The ice boat?” repeated Harry. “Where—— Oh!” - -He glanced up the lake, and saw the _Silver Queen_ coming along as -swiftly as the stiff breeze could drive the craft over the glassy -surface. The ice boat was headed directly for the three boys, but now -the course was shifted slightly, and the craft pointed fairly and -squarely for the spot where Cora Runnell was skating along, all -unconscious of her danger. - -“By gracious, Dan Marcy will run Cora down!” ejaculated Fred. He raised -his voice to a yell. “Stop! stop! you crazy fool! Do you want to kill -somebody?” - -“Save my girl!” came from the shore. “Cora! Cora! Look out for the ice -boat!” But the girl did not heed the warning, and now the ice boat, -coming as swiftly as ever, was almost on top of her. Then the girl -happened to glance back. She gave a scream, tried to turn, but slipped, -and then sank in a heap directly in the track of the oncoming danger. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - A QUARREL ON THE ICE - - -It was a moment of extreme peril, and the heart of more than one -onlooker seemed to stop beating. The ice boat was a heavy affair, with -runners of steel, and a blow from that bow, coming at such a speed, -would be like a blow from a rushing locomotive. It looked as if Cora -Runnell was doomed. - -But as all of the others stood helpless with surprise and consternation, -Joe Westmore dashed forward with a speed that astonished even himself. -He fairly flew over the ice, directly for Cora, and, reaching the fallen -girl, caught her by the left hand. - -“Quick! we must get out of the way!” he cried, and without waiting to -raise her to her feet he dragged her over the smooth ice a distance of -four or five yards. Then the _Silver Queen_ whizzed past, sending a -little drift of snow whirling over them. - -“Git out of the way!” came rather indistinctly from Dan Marcy. “Can’t -you see I’m trying to beat the record?” And then he passed out of -hearing. - -“Are you hurt?” questioned Joe, as he assisted the bewildered girl to -her feet. - -“I—I guess not, Joe,” she stammered. “But, oh! what a narrow escape!” -And Cora shuddered. - -“Dan Marcy ought to be locked up for such reckless sailing.” - -“I think so myself.” Cora paused for a moment. “It was awfully good of -you to help me as you did,” she went on, gratefully. - -By this time the others were coming up, and the story of the peril and -escape had to be told many times. Among the first to arrive was Joel -Runnell, Cora’s father, who had shouted the warning from the shore. He -had been out hunting, and carried an old-fashioned shotgun and a game -bag full of birds. - -“Not hurt, eh?” he said, anxiously. “Thank fortune for that! Who was -sailing that boat?” And when told, he said he would settle with Marcy -before the day was done. “Can’t none of ’em hurt my girl without hearing -from me,” he added. - -The excitement soon died down, and the skaters scattered in various -directions. In the meantime, to avoid being questioned about the affair, -Dan Marcy, who was a burly fellow of twenty, and a good deal of a bully, -turned his ice boat about, and went sailing up the lake once more. - -Some of the lads on the lake were out for a game of snap the whip, and -Joe, Harry and Fred readily joined in this sport. At the third snap, -Fred was placed on the end of the line. - -“Oh, but we won’t do a thing to Fred,” whispered one of the boys, and -word was sent along to make this snap an extra sharp one. - -“You can’t rattle me!” sang out Fred, as the skating became faster and -faster. “I’m here every time, I am. Let her go, everybody, whoop!” And -then he had to stop talking, for he could no longer keep up. The line -broke, and like a flash Fred spun around, lost his footing, and turned -over and over, to bring up in a big snowbank on the shore. - -“Hello, Fred, where are you bound?” sang out Harry. - -“Where—where am I bound?” spluttered the stout youth, as he emerged and -cleaned the snow from out of his collar and sleeves. “I don’t know.” He -paused to catch his breath. “Reckon I’m in training for a trip to the -North Pole.” - -Half an hour later found the Westmore boys at home for dinner. There was -something of a family gathering this Christmas day, mostly elderly -people, so neither Joe nor Harry had a chance to speak to their father -about the hunting trip they had in mind. Everybody was in the best of -humor, and the table fairly bent beneath the load of good things placed -upon it—turkey with cranberry sauce, potatoes, onions, squash, celery, -and then followed pumpkin and mince pies, and nuts and raisins, until -neither of the boys could eat a mouthful more. Both voted that Christmas -dinner “just boss,” and the other folks agreed with them. - -The middle of the afternoon found the lads at the lake again. It had -clouded over once more, and they were afraid that another fall of snow -might stop skating for several weeks, if not for the balance of the -season. - -“We want to take the good of it while it lasts,” said Harry. - -Dan Marcy was again out on his ice boat, and Joe and Harry, accompanied -by Fred, followed the craft to a cove on the west shore. There seemed to -be something the matter with the sail of the _Silver Queen_, and Marcy -ran the craft into a snowbank for repairs. - -“Say, what do you want around here?” demanded Dan Marcy, as soon as he -caught sight of the Westmore boys. His face wore an ugly look, and his -tone of voice was far from pleasant. - -“I don’t know as that is any of your business, Dan Marcy,” returned Joe. - -“Ain’t it? We’ll see. I understand you’ve been telling folks that I -tried to run into you and that Runnell girl on purpose.” - -“You didn’t take much care to keep your ice boat out of the way.” - -“It was your business to keep out of the way. You knew I was trying to -beat the record?” - -“Do you own the lake?” came from Harry. - -“Maybe you’ve got a mortgage on the ice?” put in Fred. - -Now the year before, Dan Marcy had been in the ice business, and had -made a failure of it, and this remark caused him to look more ugly than -ever. - -“See here, for two pins I’d pitch into the lot of you, and give you a -sound thrashing!” he roared. - -“Would you?” came sharply from Joe. “Sorry I haven’t the pins.” - -“I’ll give you an order on our servant girl for two clothespins, if -they’ll do,” put in Fred. - -“Then you want that thrashing, do you?” growled Dan Marcy; but as he -looked at the three sturdy lads he made no movement to begin the -encounter. - -“If anybody needs a thrashing it is you, for trying to run down Cora -Runnell,” said Joe. “It was a mean piece of business, and you know it as -well as we do.” - -“You shut up, Joe Westmore!” Marcy picked up a hammer with which he had -been driving one of the blocks of the sail. “Say another word, and I’ll -crack you with this!” He advanced so threateningly that Joe fell back a -few steps. As he did this, a form appeared on the lake shore, and an -instant later Dan Marcy felt himself caught by the collar and hurled -flat on his back. - -“I reckon as how this is my quarrel,” came in the high-pitched voice of -Joel Runnell. “I’ve been looking for you for the past hour, Dan Marcy. -I’ll teach you to run down my girl. If it hadn’t a-been for Joe Westmore -she might have been killed.” - -“Let go!” roared Marcy, and scrambled to his feet, red with rage. He -rushed at the old hunter with the hammer raised as if to strike, but -before he could land a blow, Joe caught hold of the tool and wrenched it -from his grasp. - -“Give me that hammer! Do you hear? I want that hammer!” went on the -bully. Then he found himself on his back a second time, with his nose -bleeding profusely from a blow Joel Runnell had delivered. - -“Have you had enough?” demanded the old hunter, wrathfully. “Have you? -If not, I’ll give you some more in double-quick order.” - -“Don’t—don’t hit me again,” gasped Dan Marcy. All his courage seemed to -desert him. “It ain’t fair to fight four to one, nohow!” - -“I can take care of you alone,” retorted Joel Runnell, quickly. “I asked -you if you had had enough. Come, what do you say?” And the old hunter -held up his clinched fists. - -“I—I don’t want to fight.” - -“That means that you back down. All right. After this you let my girl -alone—and let these lads alone, too. If you don’t, you’ll hear from me -in a way you won’t like.” - -There was an awkward pause, and Dan Marcy wiped the blood from his face, -and shoved off on his ice boat. - -“We’ll see about this some other time,” he called out when at a safe -distance. “I shan’t forget it, mind that!” - -“He’s a bully if there ever was one,” observed Harry. - -“And a coward into the bargain,” put in Joel Runnell. “Watch out for -him, or he may play you foul.” - -“I certainly shall watch him after this,” said Joe. - -“We’re glad you came along,” came from Fred. “We want to ask you -something about hunting. I’ve got a new double-barreled shotgun and so -has Joe, and we want to go out somewhere and try for big game.” - -“And I’ve got a new camera, and I want to get some pictures of live -game,” added Harry. - -“You can’t get any big game around Lakeport. If you want anything worth -while you’ll have to go out for several days or a week.” - -“We’re willing to go out as long as our folks will let us,” explained -Harry. “We haven’t said much about it yet, for we wanted to see you.” - -“We thought you might like to take us out, or rather go with us,” came -from Joe. “If you’d go with us we’d pay the expenses of the trip, and -give you your full share of whatever game we managed to bring down.” - -At this Joel Runnell’s gray eyes twinkled. He loved boys, and knew the -lads before him very well. All the powder and shot he used came from Mr. -Rush’s hardware establishment, and his flour from the Westmore mill, and -he was always given his own time in which to pay for the articles. -Moreover, he was not the one to forget the service Joe had rendered his -daughter. - -“I’ll go out with you willingly,” he said. “I’ll show you all the big -game I can, and what you bring down shall be yours.” - -“Hurrah! It’s settled!” cried Fred, throwing up his cap. “We’ll have -just the best time that ever was!” - -“Where do you want to go to?” - -“I was thinking of camping out up on Pine Island,” answered Harry. “But -of course we have got to see my father about it first.” - -“Pine Island is a nice place. There is an old lodge up there—put up five -years ago by some hunting men from Boston. It’s a little out of repair, -but we could fix it up, and then use that as a base of supplies.” - -“Just the thing!” said Joe, enthusiastically. “If we liked it would you -stay out with us for two or three weeks?” - -“To be sure. There is a little game on the island, and we could easily -skate to shore when we wished. When do you want to go?” - -“As soon as we get permission,” said Harry. “We’ll find out about it -to-morrow.” - -After that the boys could talk of nothing but the proposed outing and -what they hoped to bring down in the way of game. Harry wanted pictures -worse than he wanted to bring down game; nevertheless, he said he would -take along a gun and a pistol. “Then I can snapshot my bear first, and -shoot him afterward,” he said. - -It was not until the day after Christmas that the Westmore lads got a -chance to speak to their parents about what was uppermost in their -minds. At first Mrs. Westmore was inclined to demur, but her husband -said the outing might do their sons some good. - -“And they couldn’t go out with a better fellow than Joel Runnell,” added -Mr. Westmore. “They’ll be as safe with him as they would be with me.” - -As soon as it was settled that they were really to go, Harry rushed over -to Fred’s house. Fred had already received permission to go, and now all -they had to settle on was the time for their departure and what was to -be taken along. Christmas had fallen on Thursday, and it was decided to -leave home on the following Monday morning, weather permitting. As to -the stores to be taken along, that was to be left largely to the -judgment of Joel Runnell and to Mr. Westmore, who also knew a good bit -about hunting and life in camp. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - ORGANIZING THE CLUB - - -“Boys, we’ve got to organize a club,” said Joe, as they were talking the -matter over, and getting one thing and another ready for the trip. - -“Just the thing!” shouted Fred. “Let us organize by all means.” - -“What shall we call ourselves?” queried Harry. “The Outdoor Trio.” - -“Or the Forest Wanderers,” came from Joe. - -“Bosh!” interrupted Fred. “We’re going out with guns. You’ve got to put -a gun in the name.” - -“How will Young Gunners do?” - -“Gun Boys of Lakeport.” - -“Young Hunters of the Lake.” - -“Bull’s-eye Boys.” - -“Yes, but if we can’t make any bull’s-eyes, what then?” - -There was a general hubbub and then a momentary silence. - -“I’ve got it,” said Joe. “Let us call ourselves The Gun Club. That’s a -neat name.” - -“Hurrah for the Lakeport Gun Club!” shouted Fred. “Three cheers and a -tiger! Sis-boom-ah! Who stole the cheese?” - -There was a general laugh, in the midst of which Laura Westmore came up. - -“Gracious sake! what a noise you’re making! What is it all about?” - -“We’ve just organized the Gun Club of Lakeport,” answered Harry. - -“Indeed. And who is president, who is vice president, who is secretary, -and who is treasurer?” - -At this the three lads looked glum for a moment. Then Joe made a -profound bow to his sister. - -“Madam, we scarcely need so many officers,” he said, sweetly. “We’ll -elect a leader and a treasurer, and that will be sufficient. You can be -the secretary—to write up our minutes after we get home and tell you -what happened.” - -“I move we make Joe leader,” said Fred. - -“Second the commotion,” responded Harry, gravely. “’Tis put and carried -instanter. Mr. Joseph Westmore is elected to the high and dignified -office of president, etc., of the Gun Club of Lakeport. The president -will kindly deliver his speech of acceptance at the schoolhouse during -next summer’s vacation. He can treat with doughnuts——” - -“Just as soon as his sister consents to bake them for him,” finished -Fred. - -At this Laura burst out laughing. “I’ll treat to doughnuts on one -condition,” she said. - -“Condition granted,” cried Fred. “What is it?” - -“That you make me an honorary member of the club.” - -“Put and carried, madam, put and carried before you mentioned it. That -makes you the secretary sure.” - -And Laura accepted the position, and the boys got their doughnuts ere -the meeting broke up. - -The news soon spread that the Gun Club of Lakeport had been organized. -Many boys who possessed guns asked if they could join, and half a dozen -were taken in. But of these none could go on the outing as planned, -although they said they would try to join the others just as soon as -they could get away. - -“I’ll tell you one thing I am going to take along,” said Harry. “That is -a pair of snowshoes.” - -“Right you are,” returned Fred. “Never had so much fun in my life as -when I first put on those things. I thought I knew it all, and went -sailing down a slide about a mile a minute, until one shoe got caught in -a bush, and then I flew through the air for about ’steen yards and -landed on my head kerbang! Oh, they are heaps of fun—when somebody else -wears ’em.” - -It was decided that all should take snowshoes. In addition they were to -take their firearms, plenty of powder and shot, a complete set of camp -cooking utensils and dishes, some coffee, sugar, condensed milk, flour, -bacon, salt pork, beans and potatoes, salt and pepper, and half a dozen -other things for the table. Mr. Rush likewise provided a small case of -medicines and a good lantern, and from the Westmore household came the -necessary blankets. Each lad was warmly dressed, and carried a change of -underwear. - -“It is going to be no easy work transporting that load to Pine Island,” -observed Harry, gazing at the stores as they lay in a heap on the barn -floor at his parents’ place. - -“We are to take two low sleds,” answered Fred. “We have one and Joel -Runnell will furnish the other.” - -The sleds were brought around Saturday morning, and by afternoon -everything was properly loaded. Joel Runnell examined the new shotguns -with care and pronounced each weapon a very good one. - -“And I hope you have lots of sport with ’em,” he added. - -Late Saturday evening Harry was sent from home to the mill to bring over -a sack of buck-wheat flour his mother desired. On his way he passed -Fred’s home, and the latter readily agreed to accompany his chum on the -errand. - -The promise of more snow had not yet been fulfilled, and the night was a -clear one, with the sky filled with countless stars. - -“I only hope it stays clear,” said Fred. “That is, until we reach the -lodge on the island. After that I don’t care what happens.” - -“It might not be so jolly to be snowed in—if we run short of provisions, -Fred.” - -“Oh, old Runnell will be sure to keep the larder full. He told me that -the woods are full of wild turkeys and rabbits.” - -Having procured the sack of flour and placed it on a hand sled, the lads -started on the return. On the way they had to pass a small clump of -trees, back of which was located the district schoolhouse. As they -paused to rest in the shadow of the trees they noted two men standing in -the entryway of the schoolhouse conversing earnestly. - -“Wonder who those men are?” said Harry. - -“It’s queer they should be there at this hour,” returned Fred. “Perhaps -they are up to no good.” - -“They wouldn’t get much if they robbed the place,” laughed Harry. “A lot -of worn-out books and a stove that isn’t worth two dollars as old iron.” - -“Let’s go a little closer, and see who they are anyway.” - -This was agreed to, and both boys stole along through the trees, and up -to the side of the entryway. From this point they could not see the men, -but could hear them talking in earnest tones, now high and then very -low. - -“It ain’t fair to be askin’ me fer money all the time,” they heard one -man say. “I reckoned as how I’d settled in full with ye long ago.” - -“It ain’t so, Hiram Skeetles,” was the reply in Dan Marcy’s voice. “I -did you a big service, and what you’ve paid ain’t half of what I ought -to have.” - -“It’s more’n you ought to have. Them papers wasn’t of no account, -anyway.” - -“Maybe—but you were mighty anxious to get ’em when——” And the boys did -not catch what followed. - -“And that’s the reason,” came presently from Hiram Skeetles. - -“Do you mean to say you lost ’em?” demanded Dan Marcy. - -“Yes.” - -“Where?” - -“One day when I was sailin’ down the lake in Jack Lasher’s sloop. We got -ketched by a squall that drove us high and dry on Pine Island. I jumped -to keep from getting hurt on the rocks, and when we got off after the -storm my big pocketbook with everything in it was gone.” - -“Humph!” came in a sniff from Dan Marcy. “Do you expect me to believe -any such fish story? Not much! I want fifty dollars, and I am bound to -have it.” - -A long wrangle followed, in which the bully threatened to expose Hiram -Skeetles. This angered the real estate dealer from Brookside -exceedingly. - -“If you’re a natural born idiot, expose me,” he cried. “But you’ll have -to expose yourself fust.” - -Dan Marcy persisted, and at last obtained ten dollars. Then the men -prepared to separate, and in a few minutes more each was gone. - -“Now what do you make of that?” questioned Fred. - -“I hardly know what to make of it,” replied Harry. “But I am going to -tell my father about this just as soon as I get home.” - -Harry was as good as his word, and Horace Westmore listened attentively -to what his son had to relate. - -“It is certainly very mysterious,” said Mr. Westmore. “The papers that -were mentioned may have been those which your grandfather once -possessed—those which showed that he was the owner of the land at the -upper end of the lake which Skeetles declares is his property. Then -again the papers may be something entirely different.” - -“I think we ought to watch Dan Marcy, father.” - -“Yes, I’ll certainly watch him after this.” - -“You haven’t been able to do much about the land, have you?” - -“I can’t do a thing without the papers—the lawyers have told me so.” - -“If old Skeetles lost them we couldn’t make him give them up, even on a -search warrant.” - -“That is true. But they may not have been lost even though he said so. -He may have them hidden away where nobody can find them,” concluded Mr. -Westmore. - -Sunday passed quietly enough, the lads attending church with their -families, and also going to Sunday school in the afternoon. In the -evening Joel Runnell dropped in on the Westmores to see that everything -was ready for an early start the next morning. - -“Funny thing happened to me,” said the old hunter. “I was over to the -tavern Saturday night, and met Hiram Skeetles there. He asked me how -matters were going, and I mentioned that I was to take you fellows up to -Pine Island for a hunt. He got terribly excited, and said you had no -right to go up there.” - -“Had no right?” questioned Joe. “Why not?” - -“He claims that Pine Island belongs to his family, being a part of the -old Crawley estate. But I told him that old Crawley didn’t leave the -island to him, and he had better mind his own business,” went on Joel -Runnell. “We had some hot words, and he flew out of the tavern madder -nor a hornet.” - -“Can he stop us, do you think?” - -“He shan’t stop me, and I shall protect you boys. Crawley was only a -fourth-handed relation of his, and the property is in the courts, and -has been for three years. At the most, Skeetles ain’t got more’n a sixth -interest in it. Sheriff Cowles is taking care of it.” - -This news made the boys wonder if Hiram Skeetles would really try to -prevent their going to the island, but when the time came to start on -the trip the real estate dealer was nowhere to be seen. - -“Gone back to Brookside,” said a neighbor. “He got word to come at -once.” - -Down at the lake there were a dozen or more friends to see them off, -including Cora Runnell, who came to say good-by to her father. The start -was made on skates, and it was an easy matter to drag the two heavily -loaded sleds over the smooth ice. - -“Good-by, boys; take good care of yourselves,” said Mr. Westmore. - -“Don’t let a big buck or a bear kill you,” said Mr. Rush to Fred, and -then with a laugh and a final handshake the hunting tour was begun. - -As the party moved up the lake they noticed that the _Silver Queen_ was -nowhere in sight. Dan Marcy had failed to break the record with his new -ice boat and had hauled her over to a carpenter shop for alterations. - -“I don’t believe he is doing a stroke of regular work,” observed Joe. -“If he keeps on he will become a regular town loafer. He has already -gone through all the money, his folks left him.” - -There was no sunshine, but otherwise the atmosphere was clear, and as -the wind was at their backs they made rapid progress in the direction of -Pine Island. The lodge which Joel Runnell had mentioned was situated -near the upper shore, so that they would have to skirt the island for -over a mile before reaching the spot. - -Inside of an hour they had passed out of sight of Lakeport, and now came -to a small island called the Triangle, for such was its general shape. -Above the Triangle the lake narrowed for the distance of half a mile, -and here the snow had drifted in numerous ridges from a foot to a yard -high. - -“This isn’t so nice,” observed Harry, as they tugged at the ropes of the -sleds. - -“I’ll go ahead and break the way,” said Joel Runnell, and then he -continued, suddenly, “There is your chance!” - -“Chance for what?” asked Harry. - -“Chance for wild turkeys. They’ve just settled in the woods on the upper -end of the Triangle.” - -“Hurrah!” shouted Joe. “Where is my gun?” - -He had it out in an instant, and Fred and Harry followed suit—the latter -forgetting all about his precious camera in the excitement. - -“You can go it alone this time,” said the old hunter. “Show me what you -can do. I’ll watch the traps.” - -In a moment they were off, and five minutes of hard skating brought them -to the shore of the Triangle. Here they took off their skates, and then -plunged into the snow-laden thickets. - -“Make no noise!” whispered Joe, who was in advance. “Wild turkeys are -hard to get close to.” - -“Oh, I know that,” came from Fred. “I’ve tried it more than half a dozen -times.” - -As silently as ghosts the three young hunters flitted through the woods, -each with his gun before him, ready for instant use. - -Presently they saw a little clearing ahead, and Joe called a halt. They -listened intently and heard the turkeys moving from one tree to another. - -“Now then, watch out—and be careful how you shoot,” cautioned Joe, and -moved out into the open. - -A second later he caught sight of a turkey, and blazed away. The aim was -true, and the game came down with a flutter. Then Harry’s gun rang out, -followed by a shot from Fred. Two more turkeys had been hit, but neither -was killed. - -“They mustn’t get away!” cried Fred, excitedly, and blazed away once -more. But his aim was wild, and the turkey was soon lost among the trees -in the distance. - -Harry was more fortunate, and his second shot landed the game dead at -his feet. Joe tried for a second turkey, but without success. - -“Never mind, two are not so bad,” said Harry, “It’s a pity you didn’t -get yours,” he went on, to Fred. - -“Oh, I’ll get something next time, you see if I don’t,” replied the -stout youth. “I don’t care for small game, anyway. A deer or a bear is -what I am after.” - -“Well, I hope you get all you want of deer and bear,” put in Joe; and -then they hastened to rejoin Joel Runnell, and resume the journey. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - THE FIRST DAY IN CAMP - - -“Got two, did you?” came from Joel Runnell, when the party came up. -“That’s a good deal better than I looked for.” - -“I hit a third, but it got away from me,” said Fred. - -“You mustn’t mind that. I’ve seen young gunners go out more than once -and not bring a thing down,” returned the old hunter. - -Once more the journey up the lake was resumed, and an hour later they -came in sight of Pine Island; a long narrow strip of land, located half -a mile off the western shore. The island lay low at either end, with a -hill about a hundred feet high in the middle. On the hill there was a -patch of trees that gave to the place its name, and trees of other -varieties lined the shores, interspersed here and there with brushwood. -There were half a dozen little coves along the eastern shore, and two -small creeks near the southern extremity. - -As the party drew closer to the island they saw that all the trees were -heavily laden with snow, and many of the bushes were covered. - -“Pretty well snowed up, isn’t it?” remarked Joe. - -“I’m going to take a picture of the island,” said Harry, and proceeded -to get out his camera, which was a compact affair, taking film pictures -four by five inches in size. - -“Is the light strong enough?” questioned Joe. “I thought you had to have -sunlight for a snapshot.” - -“I’ll give it a time exposure, Joe.” - -“Fred, how long do you think it ought to have?” - -“About ten seconds with a medium stop,” was the reply. - -The camera was set on the top of one of the sleds and properly pointed, -and Joe timed the exposure. Then Harry turned the film roll around for -picture number two. - -“That’s a good bit easier than a plate camera,” came from Joel Runnell. -“I once went out with a man who had that sort. His plates weighed an -awful lot, and he was always in trouble trying to find some dark place -where he could fill his holders.” - -“This camera loads in daylight; so I’ll not have any trouble that way,” -said Harry. “And I can take six pictures before I have to put in a new -roll of films.” - -It was high noon when the upper end of Pine Island was gained. All of -the party were hungry, but it was decided to move on to the lodge before -getting dinner. - -The lodge set back about a hundred feet from the edge of a cove, and ten -minutes more of walking over the ice and through the deep snow brought -them in sight of the building. It was a rough affair of logs, twenty by -thirty feet in size, with a rude chimney at one end. There was a door -and two windows, and the ruins of a tiny porch. Over all the snow lay to -a depth of a foot or more. - -“I’ve got a name for this place,” said Joe. “I don’t think anything -could be more appropriate than that of Snow Lodge.” - -“That fits it exactly!” cried Fred. “Snow Lodge it is, eh, Harry?” - -“Yes, that’s all right,” was the answer; and Snow Lodge it was from that -moment forth. - -There had been a padlock on the door, but this was broken off, so they -had no difficulty in getting inside. They found the lodge divided into -two apartments, one with bunks for sleeping purposes, and the other, -where the fireplace was, for a living-room. Through an open window and -through several holes in the roof the snow had sifted, and covered the -flooring as with a carpet of white. - -“We’ll have to clean up first of all,” said Joe. “No use of bringing in -our traps until then.” - -“Our first job is to clean off the roof and mend that,” came from Joe -Runnell. “Then we’ll be ready for the next storm when it comes. After -that we can clean up inside and cut some firewood.” - -“But dinner——” began Fred. - -“I’ll cook the turkeys and some potatoes while the others fix the room,” -said Harry. - -This was agreed to, and soon they had a fire blazing away in front of -the lodge. To dry-pick the turkeys was not so easy, and all the small -feathers had to be singed off. But Harry knew his business, and soon -there was an appetizing odor floating to the noses of those on the roof -of the lodge. - -The young hunters thought the outing great sport, and while on the roof -Joe and Fred got to snowballing each other. As a consequence, Joe -received one snowball in his ear, and Fred, losing his balance, rolled -from the roof into a snowbank behind the lodge. - -“Hi! hi! let up there!” roared old Runnell. “This isn’t the play hour, -lads. Work first and play afterward.” - -“It’s no play to go headfirst in that snowbank,” grumbled Fred. “I’m as -cold as an icicle!” - -“All hands to dinner!” shouted Harry. “Don’t wait—come while everything -is hot!” - -“Right you are!” came from Joe, as he took a flying leap from the roof -to the side of the fire. “Phew! but that turkey smells good, and so do -the potatoes and coffee!” - -They were soon eating with the appetite that comes only from hours spent -in the open air in winter. Everything tasted “extra good,” as Fred put -it, and they spent a good hour around the fire, picking the turkey bones -clean. The turkeys had not been large, so that the meat was extra tender -and sweet. - -The roof of the lodge had been thoroughly cleaned, and now the boys were -set to work to clean out the interior, and to start a fire in the open -fireplace. In the meantime Joel Runnell procured some long strips of -bark, and nailed these over the holes he had discovered. Over the -broken-out window they fastened a flap of strong, but thin, white canvas -in such a manner that it could be pushed aside when not wanted, and -secured firmly during the night or when a storm was on. - -The roaring fire soon dried out the interior of the building, and made -it exceedingly comfortable. The boys found several more cracks in the -sides, and nailed bark over these. - -“Now for some firewood and pine boughs for the bunks, and then we can -consider ourselves at home,” said Joel Runnell. “I know cutting firewood -isn’t sport, but it’s all a part of the outing.” - -“Oh, I shan’t mind that a bit,” replied Joe, and the others said the -same. - -Several small pine trees were handy, and from these old Runnell cut the -softest of the boughs, and the boys arranged them in the bunks, after -first drying them slightly before the fire. Over the boughs were spread -the blankets brought along, and this furnished each with a bed, which, -if not as comfortable as that at home, was still very good. - -“It will beat sleeping on a hard board all hollow,” said Harry. - -Next came the firewood; and this was stacked up close to the door of the -lodge, while a fair portion was piled up in the living-room, for use -when a heavy storm was on. Each of the boys chopped until his back -fairly ached, but no one complained. It was so different, chopping wood -for an outing instead of in the back yard at home! - -“And now for something for supper and for breakfast,” said Joel Runnell, -as the last stick was flung on the woodpile. “Supposing we divide our -efforts. Joe can go with me into the woods on a hunt, while Fred and -Harry can chop a hole in the ice on the lake, and try their luck at -fishing.” - -“Just the thing!” cried Fred. “Wait and see the pickerel I haul in.” - -“And the fish I catch,” added Harry. - -“Will we have to lock up the lodge?” asked Joe. - -“Hardly,” answered the old hunter. “I don’t believe there is anybody, -but ourselves inside of five miles of this spot.” - -The guns were ready, and Joel Runnell and Joe soon set off, for the -short winter day was drawing to a close, and there was no time to lose. -But the fishing outfits had still to be unpacked, and the boys had to -find bait, so it was half an hour later before Fred and Harry could get -away. - -Arriving at the lake shore, the two would-be fishermen selected a spot -that they thought looked favorable, and began to cut their hole. As the -ice was fully sixteen inches thick this was no easy task. But at last -the sharp ax cut through, and then it was an easy matter to make the -hole large enough for both to try their luck. - -“I’ll wager a potato that I get the first bite,” observed Harry, as he -threw in. - -“What odds are you giving on that bet?” came from Fred. - -“I didn’t think you were such small potatoes as to ask odds,” was the -quick answer; and then both lads laughed. - -Fishing proved to be slow work, and both boys became very cold before -Fred felt something on his line. - -“Hurrah, I’ve got a bite!” he shouted. “Here is where I win that -potato!” And he hauled in rapidly. - -“Be careful that you don’t lose your fish,” cautioned Harry. “We can’t -afford to lose anything just now.” - -“Huh! don’t you think I know how to fish?” grunted Fred, and hauled in -as rapidly as before. But then the game appeared to hold back, and he -hardly knew what to do. - -“Coming in hard,” he said, slowly. “I think——. Ah, I’ve got him now! -Here he comes!” And then the catch did come—a bit of brushwood, with -several dead weeds clinging to it. - -“That’s a real fine fish,” said Harry, dryly. “What do you suppose he’d -weigh, in his own scales?” - -“Oh, give us a rest!” - -“The potato is yours, Fred. You can eat it for supper, along with that -fine catch.” - -“If you say another word, I’ll pitch you into the hole!” - -“I never saw a fish exactly like that one. Is it a stickleback, or a -hand-warmer?” - -Fred did not answer, and Harry said no more, seeing that his chum did -not relish the joke. Both baited up afresh, and this time Fred got a -real bite, and landed a pickerel weighing close to a pound. - -“Now you’re doing something!” cried Harry, heartily. “I’ll give in, you -are the best fisherman, after all.” - -“It was blind luck, Harry. You may——You’ve got a bite!” - -Harry did have a bite, and the strain on the line told that his catch -was a heavy one. He had to play his catch a little. Then it came up—a -fine lake bass twice the size of the pickerel. - -After this the sport continued steadily, until the young fishermen had -fourteen fish to their credit. In the meantime it had grown quite dark, -and the air was filled with softly falling snowflakes. - -“I wonder if the others have got back to the lodge yet?” said Fred. - -“It is not likely, Fred. That last shot we heard came from almost on top -of the hill.” - -“I hope they’ve had good luck. It looks now as if we wouldn’t be able to -do much to-morrow.” - -“Oh, this storm may not last. The wind isn’t in the right direction. We -may—Hark!” - -The boys stopped short in their talk, and both listened intently. From a -distance they could hear a faint cry: - -“Help! help!” - -“It is Joe!” ejaculated Harry. “He is in trouble. We must go and see -what is wrong!” - -And throwing down his line and his fish he bounded in the direction of -the cry for assistance, with Fred at his heels. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - WHAT HAPPENED AT NIGHT - - -We must go back to the time when Joe and old Runnell started away from -Snow Lodge to see what game they could bring down for the next meal or -two. - -“We haven’t any time to waste,” said the old hunter, as they moved -along. “In an hour it will be too dark to shoot at a distance.” - -“Shall we take snowshoes along?” asked the youth. - -“Not worth while, lad. We’ll try those in the big forest over on the -mainland later on.” - -The lodge was soon left behind, and old Runnell led the way through some -brushwood that skirted the base of the hill. - -“There ought to be some rabbits around here,” he said, and had scarcely -spoken, when two rabbits popped into view. Bang! went his gun, and both -were brought low by the scattering shot. - -“Gracious! but you were quick about that!” cried Joe, enthusiastically. - -“You don’t want to wait in hunting, Joe. Be sure of what you are -shooting at, and then let drive as quick as you can pull trigger.” - -On they went, and a few rods farther scared up two other rabbits. Joe -now tried his luck, Joel Runnell not firing on purpose. One of the -rabbits fell dead, while the other was so badly lamed that Joe caught -and killed him with ease. - -“Good enough! Now we are even!” exclaimed the old hunter. - -“Do you think we shall find any large game here?” - -“Hardly. If a deer was near by he’d slide away in jig time as soon as he -heard those shots. The most we can hope for are rabbits and birds.” - -“I see a squirrel!” cried Joe, a little later. - -“Watch where he goes,” returned the old hunter. “Ah, there’s his tree.” - -Joe took aim, and the squirrel was brought down just as he was entering -his hole. The tree was not a tall one, and Joel Runnell prepared to -climb it. - -“What are you going to do that for?” asked the youth. - -“For the nuts, Joe. They’ll make fine eating during the evenings around -the fire.” - -It was an easy matter to clean out the hole in the tree—after they had -made sure that no other animals were inside. From the place they -obtained several quarts of hickory and other nuts, all of which Joel -Runnell poured into the game bag he had brought along. - -“This is easier than picking ’em from the trees,” he remarked. “And that -squirrel will never need them now.” - -By the time the top of the hill was gained, it was almost dark, and the -snow had begun to fall. At this point they scared up half a dozen birds, -and brought down four. Joel Runnell also caught sight of a fox, but the -beast got away before he could fire on it. - -“We may as well be getting back,” said the old hunter. “It is too dark -to look for more game.” - -“Suppose we separate?” suggested Joe. “I can take to the right, and you -can go to the left. Perhaps one or the other will spot something before -we get back to the lodge.” - -This was agreed to, and soon Joe found himself alone. As he hurried on -as fast as the deep snow permitted, he heard Joel Runnell fire his gun -twice in succession. - -“He has seen something,” thought the youth. “Hope I have equal luck.” - -He was still on high ground when he came to something of a gully. Here -the rocks had been swept bare by the wind. As he leaped the gully -something sprang up directly in front of him. - -What the animal was Joe could not make out. But the unexpected -appearance of the beast startled the young hunter, and he leaped back in -astonishment. In doing this he missed his footing, and the next instant -found himself rolling over the edge of the gully to a snow-covered shelf -ten feet below. - -“Help! help!” he cried, not once, but half a dozen times. - -He had dropped his gun, and was now trying his best to cling fast to the -slippery shelf. But his hold was by no means a good one, and he found -himself slipping, slipping, slipping, until with a yell he went down, -and down, into the darkness and snow far below. - -In the meantime, not only Harry and Fred, but also Joel Runnell were -hurrying to his assistance. But the darkness and the falling snow made -the advance of the three slow. They came together long before the edge -of the gully was reached. - -“Hello!” cried the old hunter. “Was that Joe calling?” - -“It must have been,” answered Harry. “But where is he?” - -“He wasn’t with me. When we started back to the lodge we separated. I -just shot another brace of squirrels, when I heard him yell.” - -“I think the cry came from that direction,” said Fred, pointing with his -finger. - -“And I think it came from over there,” said Harry, pointing in another -direction. - -“I think Harry is right,” said old Runnell. “Go slow, boys. There are -many pitfalls among the rocks.” - -He led the way, and they came after him, spreading out a distance of -several rods. Presently they reached the gully, but not at the point -where Joe had taken the fall. - -“Hello, Joe? Where are you?” called Harry. - -No answer came back, and the call was repeated several times. Not a -sound broke the stillness of the evening. - -“He’s in trouble, that is certain,” said Harry, looking more anxious -every minute. - -“Perhaps he fell over the rocks, and broke his neck,” put in Fred. - -“Oh, Fred, do you think he did?” - -“Let us hope for the best, lads,” broke in Joel Runnell. - -“If he wasn’t badly hurt he’d answer us,” went on Harry. “I wish we had -the lantern.” - -“I’ll go back for it,” said Fred, and hurried for the lodge without -further words. - -Joel Runnell had started along the edge of a ravine, with his face close -to the rocks and snow. Now he came to a halt. - -“Here are some footprints,” he declared. “Wait till I strike a light.” - -He lit a match, and with this set fire to a dry pine bough. The -footprints were there plain enough. - -“Joe!” he called, sharply. “Joe, are you below?” - -“Yes,” came faintly to his ears. - -“He’s here!” shouted the old hunter. - -“Where?” and now Harry came up quickly. - -“He’s down below.” - -Harry bent over the dark opening. - -“Joe, are you badly hurt?” he questioned. - -“I—I guess not. But my—my wind is g-g-gone!” - -“We’ll soon have you up.” - -“We can’t do it without a rope,” said old Runnell. “Better go back to -the lodge for one.” - -Harry caught Fred just coming away with the lighted lantern. The rope -was quickly procured, and both sped back to the gully. Then Harry was -lowered, taking the light with him. - -He found Joe sitting on a ledge of rocks, his feet in the snow. One hand -was scratched and bleeding, and there was blood on one of his cheeks. - -“It was a nasty fall, I can tell you that,” said Joe, when he felt able -to talk. “When I came down I thought it was all up with me.” - -“You can be thankful you didn’t break any bones, Joe,” returned his -brother, tenderly. - -A sling was made, and Joe was hoisted up by old Runnell and Fred, and -then Harry came up, carrying the shotgun. By this time it was pitch-dark -on all sides, and the snow was coming down thickly. - -“It’s good we have the lantern,” observed Harry. “It is going to be no -easy job getting back to the lodge.” - -Joel Runnell led the way, and the boys followed, with Joe in the middle -leaning on the others’ shoulders. Progress was slow, and it took the -best part of an hour to reach Snow Lodge. - -“Jumping bullfrogs! if I didn’t leave the door wide open!” cried Fred, -in consternation. - -“Well, we’ll forgive you this time,” laughed Joe Runnell. “But don’t let -it happen again.” - -The lodge was cold, but with the door shut tight and a good fire the -temperature soon arose. Then Fred slipped down to the lake, and brought -in the fish that had been caught. - -“Not so bad,” said the old hunter, as he looked the catch over. “Reckon -we’ll have enough to eat for a day or two.” - -Before retiring that night Joe washed his bruises and bathed them with -some arnica that was in the medicine case. This eased the wounds a great -deal, and in a few days he felt as well as ever. - -It snowed steadily the whole of the night, and toward morning the wind -arose and sent the snow flying against the lodge until it was piled -almost to the top of the door. The thermometer went down ten degrees, -and all hands were glad enough to hug the fire. - -“Phew! but this storm is a corker,” exclaimed Fred. “I’m glad we haven’t -got to travel in it.” - -“We needn’t stir until it clears off,” said Joel Runnell. “That will -give Joe a chance to mend.” - -Breakfast was late, and they took their own time in eating the fish and -potatoes that had been prepared. After this they gazed out of the window -for a while, and then sat down to play at dominoes and checkers, both -games having been brought along by Fred for just such an emergency. - -Yet with it all the day passed slowly, and the boys were not sorry when, -at nightfall, the snowing ceased, and the wind also fell. - -“It’s going to be a clear day to-morrow,” the old hunter predicted. “We -ought to have some fine sport.” - -It was not yet nine o’clock when the boys and the old hunter retired for -the night. The fire was fixed with care, so that no sparks might set -fire to the lodge. - -It did not take long for the boys to get to sleep. Each occupied a -separate bunk in the sleeping apartment, while old Runnell stretched -himself on the floor in the living-room. - -Fred had been asleep about an hour, when he awoke with a start. What had -aroused him he could not tell, until a peculiar sensation along one of -his lower limbs attracted his attention. - -“What in the world can that be?” he asked himself. “Am I getting a -chill, or is it rheumatism?” - -He caught his breath, and on the instant his heart almost stopped -beating from fright. Something was in the bunk; something that was -crawling over his lower limbs and up to his breast! - -“It’s a snake!” he thought. “It’s a snake! If I dare to move it will -sting me! Can it be a rattler?” - -He was on the point of screaming, but could not bring himself to do it. -The cold beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. In those few -seconds he lived an hour of anguish. Then he made a swift clutch at the -object through the blanket, and leaped out upon the floor. - -“A snake! A snake!” he yelled. “Help me! Shoot him, somebody! A snake -has me by the leg! He’s stinging me this minute! I’m a dead boy!” - - - - - CHAPTER IX - AT A DEER HUNT - - -In a moment there was a wild commotion throughout the lodge. All of the -others sprang up, and reached for their weapons. - -“What is it, a bear?” gasped Harry. - -“A snake! a snake!” screamed Fred. “Save me, before he stings me!” - -The lantern had been turned low. Now Joe turned it up, while Joel -Runnell kicked the fire into a blaze. In the meantime, Fred pulled both -the blanket and the reptile from him, and cast them upon the floor. - -“Let me get at him,” said old Runnell, and he stepped into the sleeping -room as the snake crawled from under the blanket and started across the -floor for a hole in the corner. - -Bang! it was a hasty shot, and in that confined space it made the ears -of all the boys ring. For the time being, the smoke was so thick nobody -could see, and more than one began to cough. - -“Did you—you fetch him?” faltered Fred. He felt so weak in the lower -limbs that he had to rest on the edge of a bunk for support. - -“Think I did,” was the laconic reply of the old hunter. He held the -double-barreled gun ready for a second shot. - -But this was unnecessary, for as the smoke cleared away it was seen that -the snake had been literally cut to pieces by the dose of shot. The tail -still whipped over the floor, and, catching it up, the old hunter threw -it on the back of the fire, and a moment later the head and the bits of -body followed. - -“Was it a rattler?” questioned Harry. - -“No, it was only an ordinary everyday snake,” answered Joel Runnell. “I -reckon the heat warmed him into life. But he scared you, didn’t he, -Fred?” - -“Well-er—it wasn’t very pleasant,” answered the stout youth. “I don’t -want another such bunkmate.” - -“I guess none of us do,” came from Joe. “Ugh! it makes one shiver to -think of it.” - -“I’m going to search around for more,” said Harry, and took up the -lantern. The others helped him, but no more snakes were to be found. - -As Joel Runnell had predicted, New Year’s day proved clear, and the -bright sun, shining on the snow, was fairly dazzling. - -“We’ll go out after dinner,” said the old hunter. “The sun will soon -make the top of the snow right for snow-shoeing,” and so it proved. - -The boys were anxious to try the snowshoes, or _skis_, as they are -called in certain parts of the country. They had already tried them -around the yard at home, with varying success. Joel Runnell was an -expert in using them, and he gave them all the advice he deemed -necessary. - -“Take your time, and make sure of what you are doing,” he said. “If you -try to hurry at the start, you’ll surely take a tumble. Swiftness comes -only with practice.” - -It had been decided that they should cross to the mainland on a hunt for -deer. About two miles and a half away was a cove to which the deer came -regularly at certain seasons of the year. This was known, however, to -nobody but Joel Runnell, and he took good care to keep the fact to -himself. - -An early dinner was had, and they started off about midday, after -closing up the lodge and putting a wooden pin through the hasp of the -door. A rough board was nailed over the open window, so that no wild -animal might leap through to rummage their stores. - -“Now for a nice deer apiece!” exclaimed Joe, as they made their way to -the lake shore. - -“I must say you don’t want much,” said Harry. “I guess we’ll be lucky if -we get one or two all told.” - -“Nothing like hoping for the best,” grinned old Runnell. “It might be -that we’d get two each, you know.” - -“I want a good picture of a deer as much as anything,” went on Harry, -who had his camera swung from his shoulder. - -“Humph! that’s all well enough, but we can’t live on photos,” grumbled -Fred. “A nice juicy bit of venison will just suit me to death after such -a tramp as this is going to be.” - -As soon as the thick undergrowth was left behind, they stopped and -donned their snowshoes. Out on the lake the snow lay in an unbroken mass -for miles. Over this they found snowshoe walking to be comparatively -easy. - -“Snowshoes are all right on a level,” old Runnell explained. “It is -going up-hill and coming down that tests one’s skill.” - -“Oh, I think this is lots of fun!” cried Harry, and started to run. All -went well for fifty yards, when he struck an extra high drift of snow -and pitched into it headlong. - -“Oh, for a snap-shot!” sang out Joe, merrily. “Harry, lend me the camera -until I press the button on you.” - -“Not much!” spluttered his brother. “Wuow! But that was a cold plunge!” -he added, as he freed himself of the snow. “Tell you what, there is more -science in using these things than one imagines.” - -The edge of the cove was covered with pines and spruces, all hanging low -with their weight of snow. Back of this fringe was a small opening, -filled with young saplings. - -“The deer have been around here, that’s certain,” said Joel Runnell, as -he pointed to the saplings. “See how they have been peeling off the -bark.” - -He told them to look to their firearms, and they did so, while Harry -made certain that his camera was ready for use. Then they continued -their journey, with eyes and ears on the alert for the first appearance -of any game. - -It was all of an hour before the old hunter called a halt. He pointed to -a track in the snow just ahead of them. - -“Deer!” he said, in a half whisper. “Five of ’em. Go slow now, and make -no noise.” - -At this announcement the heart of each of the youths began to flutter, -and they clutched their guns tightly, while Harry brought his camera -around to the front. - -There was a slight rise of ground in front of them, at the top of which -was a belt of brushwood. To the right was a hollow, and to the left -something of a cliff. - -The brushwood gained, Joel Runnell, who was in the lead, motioned for -the boys to crouch low. They did as ordered, and came up to him as -silently as so many ghosts. - -The sight that met their gaze thrilled them to the core. The five deer -were just beyond, feeding on the tender bark of the young trees in that -vicinity. They were knee-deep in the snow. A magnificent old buck was -leader of the herd. - -“Let me take a picture first!” whispered Harry, and swung his camera -into position. The sun was shining directly on the game, and the -grouping could not have been better. Click! and the snap-shot was taken. -Then, to make sure of a picture, he took a second shot from a slightly -different position. - -As the second click was heard, the old buck raised his head to look -around and listen. The wind was blowing from the deer toward the -hunters, so the buck scented nothing unusual. - -“Joe, take the one on the left; Harry, try for that on the right; Fred, -shoot the one near the big rock. I’ll take the buck,” whispered Joel -Runnell. - -All agreed, and the firearms were brought into position. Fred was -trembling as with “buck fever,” and Harry was equally excited. - -“When I count three, fire,” said the old hunter. “Ready? One, two, -three!” - -Crack! crack! bang went the rifles and the shotguns, in a scattering -fire. On the instant the old buck bounded into the air and fell -lifeless, with a bullet through his left eye. The deer Joe had aimed at -was mortally wounded, and fell where it had stood, kicking and plunging, -and sending the snow and ice flying in all directions. - -Harry and Fred had not been so fortunate, although each had “nipped” his -mark, Fred landing some shot in the deer’s side, and Harry striking in -the hind quarter. In the meantime, the fifth deer turned, and sped from -sight with the swiftness of the wind. - -“Hurrah! we’ve got two at least!” shouted Joe, and ran forward to finish -his prize. This was an easy matter, and a second shot caused the deer to -stop struggling at once. - -“Look out for those other chaps!” yelled Joel Runnell, suddenly. “They -are going to attack us!” - -He was right. The two wounded deer were hurt enough to turn ugly, and -now each came on with eyes that were full of fight. One sprang at Joe, -and with a well-directed blow sent that youth sprawling headlong over -the game he had brought low. The second charged on Fred, knocking the -stout youth over likewise and then preparing to gore him with all the -power of those cruel-looking prongs. - - - - - CHAPTER X - AMONG THE WOLVES - - -It was a moment of extreme peril, and each of the party realized it -fully. A wounded deer is an ugly creature to deal with at the best, and -these animals were both wounded and half starved, for the recent heavy -falls of snow had cut them off from nearly all of their food supplies. - -“Jump, Joe!” screamed Harry, in terror. “Jump, or you will be killed!” - -“Save me!” screamed Fred. “The deer is going to bore me through!” - -The words had scarcely been uttered, when Joel Runnell’s rifle rang out, -and the deer that had attacked Fred fell over, paralyzed from a bullet -through its backbone. Then Fred scrambled up, and ran for dear life down -the slope leading to the lake. - -“Come on!” he yelled. “Come on! I’ve had enough of deer hunting! Come -on, before all of us are killed!” - -Harry could not bear to see Joe in such dire peril, and leaping up to -the side of the deer he discharged the second barrel of his shotgun with -all possible speed. - -The aim was none of the best, but some of the shot penetrated the -animal’s hind leg, and caused it to start back limping. At this, Joe -tried to scramble up, but found himself too weak to do so. The deer then -turned upon Harry, and that youth met the onslaught by hitting the game -over the head with his gun-stock. - -“That’s the way to do it!” shouted Joel Runnell, who was coming up as -fast as he could, hunting knife in hand. “Don’t let him get away to buck -you. Crowd him up!” And Harry crowded the deer that was now inclined to -flee. A moment later the old hunter was at hand, and, catching the game -by one prong, plunged the keen knife into the upturned throat; and then -the brief but fierce fight came to an end. - -“Say, but that was hot!” gasped Joe, when he at last arose. “I was -afraid I was a goner, sure!” - -“Where is Fred?” asked old Runnell, looking around as he reloaded. - -“He ran away,” answered Harry. He raised his voice: “Fred, where are -you? Come back, the fight is over.” - -“Are those deer dead?” came in a trembling voice from a distance. - -“Yes.” - -At this news the stout youth came limping back, one snowshoe on and the -other under his arm. He looked rather sheepish. - -“Thought you’d leg it, did you?” said old Runnell, quizzically. “Can’t -say I blame you much.” - -“I—I guess I was looking for that other deer,” answered Fred, lamely. -His companions could not help but smile, but they did not let the stout -youth see it. - -“Well, we got one apiece, after all,” said Joel Runnell, after a pause, -during which they made sure that all of the game were dead. “Boys, I can -tell you that we’ve been lucky. It isn’t likely that we’ll make a better -haul than this all the time we are out.” - -“Excepting we get on the track of a moose,” said Joe. - -“So far as I know, there are no longer any moose in this vicinity. I -haven’t shot one for four years. As for meat, there is nothing better -than the deer we have just brought down.” - -How to get the game to the lodge was the next problem, and after a -conference it was decided to pile two of the deer on a drag, and take -them over at once. The others were hung high in a tree, so as to protect -them from other wild animals. - -“I reckon we’ve had sport enough for one day,” said Joel Runnell. “By -the time we get these two deer to the lodge everybody will be fagged -out.” - -For drags they cut long sweeps of pine. On these the deer were tightly -bound with ropes, and while the old hunter and Fred pulled one, Joe and -Harry pulled the other. - -As they reached the edge of the lake Joe caught sight of some game in a -nearby tree. They were partridge, and he and old Runnell brought down -six. The others flew away with a rush that was exceedingly noisy. - -“Now we can have a potpie worth eating!” exclaimed Joe. “I’ll make one -just like Grandma Anderson’s.” - -To Harry, who was tired out, the walk over the lake appeared endless, -but just as the sun was setting they came in sight of the lodge. - -“Home again!” sang out Joe. “Home again, and glad——Hello!” - -He stopped short, and looked at the snow before him. There were prints -that filled him with wonder. - -“What is it, Joe?” asked Fred. - -“Unless I am mistaken these marks were made by the hoofs of a horse!” - -“They were,” said Joel Runnell, after an examination. “Somebody has been -around here on horseback.” - -“Perhaps we’ve got a visitor,” suggested Harry. “Let’s hurry up and -see.” - -Increasing their speed they soon reached the lodge. The hoof prints were -there, and they could plainly see where somebody had leaped from the -horse and entered the building. - -“Hope it wasn’t a thief,” said Joe. - -The door was fastened just as they had left it, and inside of the lodge -nothing appeared to be disturbed. But on the table was a note, pinned -down by a fork stuck in the crack of the boards. The note ran as -follows: - - “You ain’t wanted here, and you had better clear out before Hiram - Skeetles has the law on you. - - “Daniel Marcy.” - -“Well, listen to that!” ejaculated Joe. “What right has Dan Marcy to -leave such a message as this?” - -“Evidently Hiram Skeetles got him to do it,” said Joel Runnell. -“Remember, Skeetles claims to own the island.” - -“But he doesn’t own it,” answered Joe, warmly. “And I, for one, shan’t -budge.” - -“Nor I,” added Harry. - -“So say we all!” sang out Fred. “Just let Marcy or old Skeetles show -himself, and we’ll give him a piece of our mind, eh, fellows?” - -“Nobody ever tried to stop my hunting here before,” said Joel Runnell. -“As I told you before, so far as I know, the island is under the care of -Sheriff Clowes. As to who owns the island, that is for the courts to -decide.” - -“Then we’ll quit on notice from the sheriff, and not before,” said Joe. - -“It’s a wonder Dan Marcy didn’t steal something,” put in Harry. “I don’t -think he’d be above doing such a thing.” - -“Oh, don’t paint him any blacker than he is, Harry,” returned his -brother; nevertheless, all looked around the lodge with interest, to -make sure that nothing was missing. - -“I suppose Marcy has gone to old Skeetles to report,” said Joel Runnell, -later on, while they were broiling a choice cut of deer meat. “And if -that’s so we’ll hear from him again before long.” - -The hunt had given everybody a good appetite, and they sat over the -well-cooked venison a long time, praising the meal and talking over the -prospects for more sport. There was a good deal of enthusiasm, and, in -the midst of this, Marcy and Hiram Skeetles were for the time being -forgotten. - -It being New Year’s night they did not go to bed as early as usual, but -instead sat up eating nuts and listening to several good hunting stories -old Runnell had to tell. They also talked of home, until Harry grew just -a bit homesick and changed the subject. - -With nothing to make them get up early, all hands slept the following -morning until after eight o’clock. The old hunter was the first to -arise, and he had the breakfast well under way before the others rolled -out. - -“I’ve been a-thinking it over,” said old Runnell. “Perhaps one of us had -better stay at the lodge while the others go for that other deer meat. -Then, if Marcy comes, or Hiram Skeetles, there will be somebody here to -talk to him.” - -“I’d just as lief stay,” said Fred, who did not relish hauling the load -of meat to Snow Lodge. - -“Supposing you and Runnell both stay,” suggested Joe. “I am sure Harry -and I can get the deer over without much trouble.” - -The matter was discussed while they were eating breakfast, and Joe’s -plan was adopted. A little later he and Harry set off, each with his -gun, and Harry with his ever-present camera in addition. So far Harry -had taken, besides the game, several pictures of the lodge and its -surroundings, and had already laid away a strip of six films for -development when he should get home. - -“I hope we’re able to bring down something on this trip,” said Harry, as -they trudged along over the lake. - -“We can’t expect to bring in something every trip we make, Harry. If we -did we’d be the greatest Gun Club in the United States. Many a hunter -goes out all day and doesn’t so much as see a squirrel.” - -“Oh, I know that. I really think that so far our luck has been -remarkably good.” - -“It won’t keep up. Our shooting in this vicinity will scare the game -away from the lodge. As the days go by we’ll have to go farther and -farther away for something worth bringing down.” - -The journey across the lake was made without incident, but scarcely had -they struck the mainland when a distant howl greeted their ears. - -“What is that?” came from Harry. - -“It’s the howl of a wolf,” answered his brother. “I shouldn’t wonder but -what he has scented the deer meat.” - -“If he has we may have some trouble in getting the deer home.” - -“Oh, I guess we can easily take care of one wolf.” - -“But there may be more, Joe. Wolves generally travel in packs, you -know.” - -“Yes, but I don’t hear any others.” - -“He may be calling his mates.” - -They moved forward up the rise, and presently came in sight of the game. -Under the tree where the deer was strung up sat two wolves, gazing -wistfully at the meat. - -“Two of them here, and one below!” cried Joe. “That makes three.” - -“Wait! let me get a picture!” whispered Harry, and brought his camera -into use without delay. It certainly made a good scene, and he got as -close as he could ere he pressed the button. Then he took up his shotgun -and blazed away, and Joe did the same. - -Neither of the wolves was much hurt, and both limped into the woods -growling savagely. The growl was answered from a distance, and in a very -few minutes four other wolves appeared, ranging themselves in a -semicircle at what they considered a safe distance. - -“The impudent beggars!” murmured Joe, and, bringing his shotgun up, he -let drive at the nearest wolf. This time his aim was true, and the wolf -leaped up, to fall dead. Instantly the other wolves fell upon their dead -companion, rending the carcass limb from limb. - -“I must say I don’t like this,” declared Harry, in something of a -nervous voice. “It looks as if they meant business. As soon as that wolf -is gone they’ll turn on us again.” - -“Here comes a whole pack of wolves!” shouted Joe. - -He was right, a distant yelping and howling proclaimed their approach. -Soon they burst into view, at least twenty strong, and in a twinkling -the two young hunters found themselves completely surrounded! - - - - - CHAPTER XI - CONFRONTED BY THE ENEMY - - -Fred had broken one of his snowshoes while running away from the deer, -and Joel Runnell’s first work after Harry and Joe had left Snow Lodge -was to repair this. - -“You want to be more careful in the future,” said the old hunter, when -the job was finished. “So far you have tumbled into nothing worse than a -snowbank. If you should slide over a cliff and land upon the rocks, you -might get badly hurt.” - -“I intend to be careful in the future,” answered the youth. “I am sorry -I ran away—now,” he added, regretfully. - -“Well, lad, as to that, it’s often much safer to run than to stand your -ground. I dodged an old buck once for half an hour, and then escaped -only by the skin of my teeth. Something got the matter with my gun, and -it wouldn’t go off.” - -“Did you kill him?” - -“Yes, two days later. I made up my mind I’d have him, and I traveled -nigh on thirty miles to lay him low.” - -After the necessary work around the lodge was concluded time hung -heavily on Fred’s hands, and he decided to try his luck once more at -fishing. - -“It’s better than doing nothing,” he said. - -“Well, it’s all right, only don’t fall into the hole, and get drowned,” -cautioned Joel Runnell. And then Fred disappeared with his outfit, -whistling merrily. - -Left to himself, Joel Runnell proceeded to split some more wood, and -pile it up in a corner of the living-room. To his experienced eye he -could see that another snowstorm was not far off, and how long it would -last there was no telling. - -“We’ve got meat enough,” he reasoned to himself. “And so long as we have -wood, too, there will be no cause to worry.” - -The thermometer had gone down once more, and he had to work at a lively -rate to keep warm. He wondered how Fred was making out with his fishing, -and grinned to himself. - -“Wager he won’t stay there long,” he muttered. “If he does, he’ll be -frozen stiff.” - -The old hunter had just carried in his sixth armful of wood, when a -shadow crossed the open doorway, and looking up he found himself -confronted by Hiram Skeetles. - -The real estate dealer was a tall, thin man, with a leathery face and -broken snags of yellowish teeth. He chewed tobacco constantly, and the -corners of his mouth were much discolored in consequence. - -“So ye hain’t taken my warnin’, I see,” snarled Skeetles. - -“Hello, Skeetles; what brings you?” demanded Joel Runnell, as cheerily -as he could. - -“Ye know well enough what brung me, Joel Runnell. Didn’t I warn ye not -to trespass on my property?” - -“I’ve told you that I don’t know as it is your property. So far I think -it belongs to the old Crawley estate, and it’s in the sheriff’s care.” - -“It ain’t so; it’s mine, every foot of it.” Hiram Skeetles’ eyes blazed. -“I want for you to git out, an’ be quick about it.” - -“And I ain’t a-going,” answered Joel Runnell, doggedly. - -“You ain’t?” - -“No.” The old hunter sat down by the fire, with his gun across his -knees. “Now, what are you going to do about it?” - -“Did you see the notice I had Dan Marcy leave?” - -“I did; but that counts for nothing with me.” - -“I’ll have the law on ye!” - -“Perhaps you will, and perhaps you won’t, Hiram.” - -“Don’t Hiram me, Joel Runnell. I don’t put myself on a level with a -vagabond o’ a game stealer like you. If——” - -“Hold on there, Skeetles. I am no game stealer, and if you say so——” The -old hunter had leaped up, gun in hand. - -“Don’t—don’t ye shoot me!” howled the real estate dealer. - -“Then don’t say such things again. Every bit of game I bring in I come -by honestly.” - -“Where are those Westmore chaps?” questioned Hiram Skeetles, deeming it -best to shift the subject. - -“They have gone out to bring in some game we shot yesterday.” - -“Did they see the notice?” - -“They did, and they care for it as little as I do.” - -“Think they can ride over me, eh?” Hiram Skeetles took a turn up and -down the apartment. “Must say the lot of ye are carryin’ matters with a -high hand.” - -“What did you do with Dan Marcy?” asked Joel Runnell, suddenly. - -“That’s my business.” - -“If you brought him along to worry us you did a very foolish thing,” -went on the old hunter. “I haven’t forgotten how he tried to run down my -girl with his ice boat.” - -“Your gal had a right to git out o’ the way.” - -“I won’t argue the point. But if Marcy worries me any more he’ll get -something he won’t like.” - -“We’ll see about this. I’ll call on the sheriff,” said Hiram Skeetles; -and without another word he passed out of the lodge, and made his way -toward the upper end of the lake. - -Anxious to learn what would be the man’s next move, Joel Runnell -followed. But Skeetles broke into a run, and soon disappeared from view -among a patch of woods. - -In thoughtful mood the old hunter walked back to the lodge, and then -toward where Fred was fishing. He found the youth safe, and surprised to -learn that the real estate dealer had showed himself in that -out-of-the-way place. - -“He doesn’t like it that Joe and Harry are here,” said Fred. “I really -think he’s afraid they’ll find that pocketbook he says he once lost.” - -“I hope they do find it—if it’s got those missing papers in it,” was the -answer. - -Fred had already caught several fish, and said he intended to catch as -many more before he quit, no matter how cold it grew. - -“I’ll show them that I can catch fish even if I’m no good at deer -hunting,” he explained. - -“Have you seen anything in the shape of game since you came down?” - -“I saw something that looked like a black bear. But he didn’t come near -here.” - -“A bear? Where?” - -Fred pointed out the direction, and Joel Runnell started off to see if -the report was true. But he could find nothing, and in half an hour he -returned. - -“You must have been mistaken, Fred. Perhaps it was nothing but a -shadow.” - -“Well, I was busy fishing, and didn’t notice particularly,” returned the -boy. - -He said he wanted to catch just two fish more, and would then return to -the lodge. - -“All right, but don’t get frozen stiff doing it,” answered Joel Runnell. - -“When do you think Joe and Harry will return?” - -“They ought to be along inside of an hour. They’ll find that load a -pretty heavy one.” - -“I heard some shooting over there a while ago. But it has stopped now.” - -To warm himself, the old hunter walked briskly in the direction of Snow -Lodge. He felt uneasy; why, he could not explain. - -“Those boys may have gotten into trouble,” he thought. “Perhaps I had -better slip after them and find out.” - -As he came in sight of the lodge an exclamation of astonishment burst -from his lips. All of their traps and stores had been tumbled in a heap -on the edge of the clearing, and the door was tightly closed, and the -broken-out window partly barred. - -“This is Skeetles’ work!” he muttered. - -“Stop where you are!” came in the real estate dealer’s voice, as Runnell -walked to the door and tried it, to find it locked. “If you attempt to -come in you’ll get shot.” - -“That’s the talk,” was added by Dan Marcy. “Possession is nine points of -the law, and we want you to take your stuff and be gone!” - -“But see here——” began Joel Runnell. - -“We won’t argy with ye!” snarled Hiram Skeetles, as he appeared at the -window, gun in hand. “Clear out, an’ be quick about it.” - -Joel Runnell was about to say something far from complimentary to the -pair, when a yell from the lake shore reached his ears. Fred was running -toward him with a face full of fear. - -“The bear! The bear!” he yelled. “He’s after me!” - - - - - CHAPTER XII - DRIVEN FROM THE LODGE - - -As soon as he heard Fred’s cry, Joel Runnell forgot for the time being -his trouble with Hiram Skeetles and Dan Marcy. - -“A bear?” he repeated. “Where is he?” - -“He’s coming right after me!” yelled the stout youth. “Shoot him, or -we’ll both be chewed up!” - -The old hunter had his rifle in his hands, and now he ran to meet Fred, -who was coming up with his fishing rod and a string of fish. The stout -youth was tremendously excited, and, reaching the pile of traps on the -ground, he went sprawling headlong, while his catch scattered in all -directions. - -“I see him!” exclaimed Joel Runnell, as the bear came into view, a -shaggy black fellow, weighing several hundred pounds. The animal was -among the trees, and to get a fair shot at the creature was next to -impossible. - -Boy and beast had come up to Snow Lodge on the side upon which the -partly barred window was located, so it was easy for Hiram Skeetles and -Dan Marcy to note what was taking place without exposing themselves to -danger. - -“Is it really a bear?” questioned the real estate dealer, in a nervous -voice. - -“It is,” announced Marcy. “And a right big fellow, too. Like as not -he’ll give ’em a stiff fight. He looks hungry enough to tackle most -anything.” - -“Do you—er—think he can get in here?” - -“Not unless he comes in by this window, and we can shoot him if he tries -that.” - -“Let us try to close up the opening,” came from Hiram Skeetles, and he -hurried to the pile of wood to get a stick for that purpose. - -In the meantime the bear had reached the edge of the clearing, and there -he stood, upright, viewing the situation. The smell of fish was -tantalizing to his empty stomach, but the sight of two human beings -instead of one made him hold back. - -Bringing up his rifle, Joel Runnell took the best aim possible and -fired. When the smoke cleared away, it was seen that the bear had been -hit in the front leg, but not seriously wounded. With a growl of pain -and rage, the disappointed beast dropped on all fours, turned, and sped -into the woods with all the speed at his command. - -“Whe—where is he? Did you kill him?” gasped Fred, as he scrambled to his -feet. - -“No; I only wounded him,” was the answer, as the old hunter reloaded the -rifle with all speed. “Wait here until I see if I can’t lay him low.” - -“But supposing he comes back here?” - -“I’ll be on his heels. You can take your shotgun and climb into a tree -if you wish.” - -Without another word Joel Runnell ran off in the direction the bear had -taken, and soon the trees, bushes and deep snow hid him completely from -view. - -“It’s funny he told me to climb a tree,” mused Fred. “It’s a good deal -safer in the lodge than anywhere else, and a heap sight warmer, too,” -and picking up his fish, he started to go forward, when he stopped short -and gazed at the traps and stores in astonishment. “What on earth made -Runnell throw these things out?” he mused. - -“Keep back there, Fred Rush!” came in Dan Marcy’s voice from the lodge -window. “You can’t come in here, nohow!” - -“Hello!” ejaculated Fred. “So you are back. Did you throw out our things -in this fashion?” - -“We did,” put in Hiram Skeetles. “And what is more, they are going to -stay out. We’ve given you warning, and now I want the whole crowd of ye -to clear out.” - -“Well, I never!” gasped the stout youth. “Of all the cheeky things to -do——” - -“It wasn’t cheeky at all,” interrupted the real estate dealer. “As I -told Runnell, this is my land, and I won’t have none o’ ye on it.” - -“Won’t you let me in to warm myself?” - -“No.” - -“Then all I’ve got to say, Hiram Skeetles, is that you are a brute.” - -“I don’t want none o’ your talk, Fred Rush.” - -“You claim to own this island, but we don’t think so, any more than we -think you own the old Anderson claim.” - -This latter remark appeared to make Hiram Skeetles furious. - -“Bringin’ that up again, eh?” he shouted. “I reckon as how them Westmore -boys set ye up to it. But I know what’s mine, and I intend to keep it. -Now you clear out, and be mighty quick about it.” - -“What will you do if I don’t go?” - -“I’ll make it warm, I can tell ye that!” - -Skeetles showed his gun, and Dan Marcy exhibited a pistol, and, alarmed -at the unexpected show of firearms, Fred dropped back to the place where -the stores had been placed. - -As he could not get into the lodge, Fred decided to follow Joel -Runnell’s advice and take to a tree. Armed with several blankets, he -climbed into a pine and made himself as comfortable as possible. The -storm that had threatened now started, the flakes of snow coming down -softly, and growing thicker and thicker every minute. - -“This will make it bad for Joe and Harry,” thought Fred. “They’ll have -their own troubles getting back to camp if it snows too hard.” - -From a distance he heard a rifle shot, proving that Joel Runnell was -still following the bear. But after that all was quiet for a good hour. - -By that time Fred was hungry, and climbing down to the ground, he -procured such things from the stores as were ready to eat. He was just -finishing a cracker when Joel Runnell came into view. - -“Did you shoot him?” asked the youth, eagerly. - -“No, he got away among the rocks,” was Joel Runnell’s reply. “I might -have tracked him farther, but I was afraid of falling into some pit, the -snow is that thick. I reckon this is going to be the banner storm of the -season. How did you make out with Skeetles and Marcy?” - -“I made out—and that’s all,” grinned Fred. “They won’t let me come near -the cabin.” - -“I thought as much, and as I came along I picked out a new spot for a -shelter—providing you and the others want to stay on the island.” - -“We can’t leave until Joe and Harry come back. If we do, they won’t know -where to look for us.” - -“Just my idee, Fred. We’ll go down close to the shore. Then they can’t -miss us when they come over.” - -“They ought to be here by this time.” - -“Perhaps they got on the track of more game.” - -Without delay the stores and traps were packed on the two sleds, and the -pair started away from Snow Lodge. From the window Hiram Skeetles and -Dan Marcy watched them with interest. - -“Don’t ye dare to stay on the island!” shouted the real estate dealer -after them. “If ye do, I’ll have the law on ye!” - -“Oh, give us a rest!” retorted Fred. “Perhaps we’ll have the law on you -before this affair is finished.” - -“I’ve got my rights——” - -“And so have we, and the Westmores have got theirs, too. Some day -they’ll find those missing papers, and then you may hear a thing or -two,” and with this parting shot Fred moved off with one sled, while old -Runnell moved off with the other. - -“Ha! did you hear that?” gasped Hiram Skeetles, clutching Marcy by the -arm. “Do you think——” - -“Oh, don’t get scared,” came from the bully. “They don’t know any more -about those papers than they know about the man in the moon.” - -“But they might have heard of my loss——” - -“No, I think it was only a bluff, Hiram. They’ll leave to-day or -to-morrow, and that will be the end of it.” - -“I hope they do leave,” sighed the real estate dealer. “I won’t feel -safe so long as they are on the island.” - -“Do you remember the place where you dropped your pocketbook?” - -“Not the exact spot. I was all shook up by the storm, and had a -splittin’ headache. I looked around for half a day, but it was no use.” - -“Maybe the pocketbook and the papers went to the bottom of the lake.” - -“I’d rather have that happen than that they should run across those -papers,” answered Skeetles, with another sigh. - -The spot Joel Runnell had chosen for a new camp was located not far from -where Fred had been fishing. Here a clump of pines overhung a hollow -several yards wide, and sloping off toward the lake shore. To the north -of the hollow were a series of rocks, that, along with the pines, cut -off a good portion of the wind and the snow. - -“I’ll cut a few saplings, and throw them over the hollow, and over them -we can place a double blanket and some pine boughs,” said Joel Runnell. -“Then we can clean out the place and start a fire near the doorway, and -we’ll be almost as comfortable as at the lodge.” - -“They kept one of the deer on us. I think that was cheeky.” - -“Never mind, we have the other, and we’ll have two more when Joe and -Harry get back. I don’t think they took anything else.” - -But in this the old hunter was mistaken. Skeetles and Marcy had helped -themselves to a little of almost all the stores, but had not taken -sufficient of any particular article to make it noticeable. - -It took over an hour to get the shelter into shape. Then the fire was -started between two large rocks, and here they proceeded to broil -several of the fish, and also set a pot of beans to baking as soon as -one of the rocks was hot enough. - -“It’s queer that Joe and Harry don’t show themselves,” was Fred’s -comment, while they were eating. “In such a storm as this they ought to -know enough to hurry back.” - -“I’ll wait a little longer and see if they don’t turn up, Fred. They may -have found the load heavier than they calculated on. Remember, too, it’s -quite a distance to where we left those deer hanging.” - -“What do you think those shots meant?” - -“I can’t say, except that they might have brought down some more small -game, maybe a partridge or some rabbits.” - -Having finished the repast, both set to work to chop firewood, for it -was easier to do this than to drag it from the pile at the lodge. - -“It galls me to think they’ll use up what we cut,” grumbled Fred. “But -I’m going to get square sometime, you see if I don’t!” - -“I think, according to law, we could make ’em pay for that venison,” -returned Joel Runnell. “But I reckon it ain’t worth going to law about. -We can decide on what’s best to do after Joe and Harry get back.” - -Slowly the afternoon wore away. In the meantime the sky grew darker, and -the snow came down so thickly that but little could be seen in any -direction. - -“I must say I don’t like this,” remarked the old hunter, with a grave -shake of his head. “Reckon I had best go across the lake and see what -has become of those lads. You won’t mind staying here alone, will you?” - -Fred did mind—not having forgotten about the bear. But he hesitated to -say so, and put on a bold front. - -“Go ahead, but don’t stay away any longer than is necessary,” he said, -and a few minutes later Joel Runnell departed on his search for the -missing ones. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - LOST IN A BLIZZARD - - -To Joe and Harry the sight of so many half-starved wolves was certainly -a dismaying one. They were vicious-looking creatures, and the fact that -the first arrivals had quickly devoured the beast they had brought low -proved that they would stop at nothing in order to satisfy their hunger. - -Without wasting words, each of the youths fired into the pack, and by -good luck two more of the creatures were killed. The others retreated -for a minute, but then came forward once more, to rend the dead bodies -and snarl and fight over the choicest pieces. - -“That was lucky,” said Joe. “But those dead ones won’t last long.” - -“What had we best do?” questioned his brother. “Run for it, or climb -into the tree?” - -Before an answer could be given to this query three of the wolves -advanced on the lads, snarling more savagely than ever. Not wishing to -be attacked before he could re-load, Harry leaped up into the lower -branches of the tree in which the two deer still hung. Joe followed, and -both climbed still higher out of harm’s way. More wolves came up, until -eight were stationed at the foot of the tree, all snarling and yelping -and leaping, their polished teeth showing plainly, and their eyes -reflecting the cruelty of their natures. - -“We are in a pickle now, and no error!” groaned Harry. “What in the -world are we to do next?” - -“Well, I reckon you can take another snap shot if you wish,” answered -Joe, dryly. - -“This is no joking matter, Joe. I feel like smashing my camera over -their heads.” - -“The best thing we can do is to stay here.” - -“I’m going to kill another wolf or two if I can.” - -Harry re-loaded and took careful aim at the largest wolf in the pack. -But the beast was wary, and just as the young hunter pulled the trigger -it leaped to one side, so that the shot flew wide of its mark, striking -another wolf in the tail, causing an added howl of pain and rage, but no -serious damage. - -After that the wolves seemed inclined to keep their distance. -Occasionally one would draw closer, with nose uplifted, sniffing the -blood of the deer, but as soon as one or the other of the lads raised -his gun the beast would slink back behind a tree, bush, or rock. - -“I guess they are going to play a waiting game,” said Joe, after a -dreary half hour had passed. - -“Do you think they expect us to come down?” - -“They know we won’t want to remain up here forever.” - -“If we only had something with which to scare them.” - -“Perhaps we can fix up something.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“I was thinking of those deer. What have you got in the way of powder -and shot?” - -Harry showed his store, and Joe looked over what he possessed. - -“We’ll fix ’em,” said Joe, getting out his knife. - -With great care he cut a chunk of venison, and wrapped it in a piece of -the deer skin. Inside of the skin he placed a quantity of powder and -shot, and to this added a fuse, a rude affair, but one that looked as if -it might burn. Then he cut several other pieces of venison. - -“Now feed these to the wolves, one at a time,” he said to his brother. - -Harry understood, and threw one of the bits far out from the tree. A -wolf came and sniffed at it, and then began to eat. Another bit brought -several other of the beasts up, and then the whole pack crowded up -close. - -“Now then, take that, and see how you like it!” cried Joe, and, lighting -the fuse, he threw the big piece down in the very center of the pack. -“Now use your gun, Harry!” he cried, and snatched up his own firearm. - -There was a moment of suspense, and then bang! went the charge in the -venison, causing several of the wolves to fall back badly wounded. An -instant later crack! crack! went the two shotguns of the young hunters. - -When the smoke cleared away it was found that three of the wolves were -dead, and two others were seriously, if not mortally, wounded. The -slaughter thoroughly scared those which remained, and in a twinkling -they turned and disappeared into the forest, some howling and yelping as -they ran. - -“That is the time we did it!” cried Joe. “They’ve learned a lesson they -won’t forget.” - -“Will they come back?” - -“I hardly think so. Runnell told me once that when a wolf is thoroughly -scared he’ll run for miles before he stops.” - -The wounded beasts were drawing away as fast as their hurts would -permit, and in a few minutes only the dead animals were in sight. With -caution the young hunters descended to the ground and looked around -among the trees. - -“They are gone, that’s certain,” announced Joe. “I don’t believe we’ll -see or hear of them again.” - -By this time it had begun to snow a little. Now that the enemy were gone -each found himself hungry. - -“We’ll get a hasty meal, and then start for camp,” said Harry. “I shan’t -feel perfectly safe until I’m back with the others.” - -But as the meal progressed they grew calmer, and even examined the dead -wolves with interest. - -“We’ll have a tale to tell when we get back,” said Joe. - -“Let us take the tails to verify our tale,” laughed Harry, and cut off -the wolves’ tails without further words. - -It was not until half an hour later that they had their drags fixed, -ready to start back for Pine Island. By this time the snow was coming -down heavily. - -“We’re up against a regular storm now, that’s certain,” came from Joe, -as he surveyed the darkening sky. - -“Well, I declare, if I haven’t lost my pocket-knife!” ejaculated Harry, -as he searched his pockets. “It’s the new one, too—the one Laura and -Bessie gave me on my last birthday.” - -Both, of the youths began a search that lasted another quarter of an -hour, when the knife was found among the branches of one of the drags. - -“And now don’t let us lose any more time,” came from Joe. “The wind is -rising, and we’ll have all we can do to get back to the lodge before -night.” - -He was right about the wind. It was already moaning and sighing among -the pines, and causing the snow to swirl in several directions. The -increased cold also affected them, and caused Harry to shiver. - -“I’d give as much as a dollar to be back to camp,” he announced. -“Hauling this load is going to be no picnic.” - -“Follow in my footsteps, Harry,” came from his brother, and Joe led the -way out of the wood and down to the lake shore. Here it seemed to snow -and blow harder than ever, and the snow was piling up in drifts that -looked far from inviting. - -For a moment the boys thought of turning back and going into a temporary -camp until the storm should subside. But they knew that Fred and Runnell -would worry over their non-appearance, and so pushed on in as straight a -course as they could lay down. - -The farther they got out on the lake the more the snow swirled around -them. The snow was now as hard as salt, and beat into their faces and -down their necks in spite of all they could do to protect themselves. -Thus less than half a mile was covered, when Harry called a halt. - -“I—I can’t get my breath,” he gasped. “Joe, this is fearful.” - -“I guess it’s something of a blizzard, Harry. Come on, we can’t stay -here.” - -“Hadn’t we better go back?” - -“It’s just as bad to go back as it is to go ahead.” - -“I can’t see a dozen yards in any direction.” - -“It’s the same with me.” - -“Then how do you know that you are going in the right direction?” - -“Oh, the island is over there, isn’t it?” - -“I should say a little to the left of that.” - -“Well, it’s between those two points, and we can’t miss the shore, even -if we don’t strike the lodge. As soon as we get close enough we can fire -a gun as a signal to Fred and old Runnell.” - -Once more they pushed on, in the very teeth of the blizzard, for such -the storm had now become. The wind roared and shrieked around them, -often tumbling them and the drags over in the snowdrifts. Soon even Joe -was all but winded, and he willingly enough crouched beside Harry and -the drags for a brief rest. - -“This is certainly fierce,” he gasped out. “I never dreamed it would get -so bad.” - -“I only hope we can hold out until we reach some part of the island. If -we can’t——” Harry did not finish, but the sigh he gave meant a good -deal. - -“Oh, you don’t want to give up so easily, Harry,” cried his brother, -bracing up. “We’ve simply got to get over, or else go back to where we -came from. We can’t stay out on the lake all night. We’d be frozen -stiff.” - -Once more they arose and caught hold of the drags. But now the loads -were much too heavy for them. - -“Let us take one and leave the other,” suggested Joe. - -Feeling that that was the best they could do, they dropped Harry’s deer, -and both caught hold of the drag Joe had been pulling. With their -burdens thus lightened, they pushed on several hundred yards farther. -But that was Harry’s limit, and again he sank down, this time as if -ready to faint from exhaustion. - -“It’s no—no use,” he sighed. “I can’t go an—another step!” - -“Oh, Harry, you must! We can’t stop here!” - -“I know that, but m—m—my legs feel as if they weighed a—a ton.” - -“Here, give me your hand. We’ll let the other deer go, too. Perhaps old -Runnell can bring it in in the morning.” - -“It’s a shame to leave the game——” - -“I know, but we have got to think of ourselves first. I don’t think -we’re so very far from the island. I’ll shoot my gun off as a signal.” - -Joe did so, and listened for fully a minute for an answering shot. But -no sound but the roaring and shrieking of the wind reached their ears. -He slung his gun over his shoulder and literally yanked his brother up. - -“Courage, Harry, courage!” he whispered. “You musn’t give in this way. -Brace up, old boy!” - -“I’m so—so sleepy,” came back, drowsily. “I really can’t go on.” - -Yet urged by Joe, Harry took a score of steps or more. But now his teeth -were chattering from the cold, and he could not stand, try his best. He -sank a dead weight on the ice. - -Filled with a new fear, Joe caught his brother up in his arms. - -“If I leave him here he’ll surely die!” he muttered, hoarsely. “I must -get him to the island somehow! I must!” - -Throwing the semi-unconscious form over his shoulder, he staggered on -until he came to a deep ridge of snow. Here he stumbled and fell. He -tried to get up, but his shaking limbs refused to hold him. - -“It’s no use,” he thought. “It’s all over.” - -He caught sight of Harry’s gun, and reaching for it, pulled the trigger. -He listened, and fancied he heard an answering shot. But he was not -sure. It might have been only the wind. - -“If only the others knew!” he murmured, and then sank down beside Harry, -all but unconscious from the cold and exhaustion. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - THE ENEMY ASKS A FAVOR - - -As soon as he reached the lake shore, Joel Runnell realized that the -snowstorm was fast turning into a blizzard that was likely to last for -several days. - -“It’s going to be a hummer,” muttered the old hunter to himself. And -then, as he gazed out upon the storm-swept ice, he added: “It’s too bad -those boys ain’t back.” - -Pulling down his cap and buttoning his coat up around his ears, he -stepped out on the ice and began the journey to the main shore. The wind -roared and tore all around him, and his progress was necessarily slow. -More than once he had to stop to catch his breath. - -It was during one of those resting spells that he heard a gun shot not -many rods away. Feeling it must be a signal, he fired in return, and -then started in the direction with all the speed he could command. - -The first he knew of the proximity of the young hunters was when he -stumbled over Joe’s body, half covered with the drifting snow. - -“Joe!” he exclaimed. “And Harry! This is too bad!” - -He bent over Joe, and tried his best to arouse the young hunter. This -was difficult, but at last Joe opened his eyes and stared vacantly -around him. - -“Wha—what do you want? Why can’t you let me sleep?” he murmured, softly. - -“Get up, Joe. You are close to camp. Rouse yourself, my boy. You can’t -stay here.” - -“Oh, Runnell, is it you? I—I——” - -“Yes, yes, I know. Get up. I’ll take Harry.” - -The old hunter assisted Joe to his feet. Then he lifted Harry bodily, -and with the younger lad over his shoulder, and the other by the arm, he -started back whence he had come. - -How they all reached shore was little short of a miracle, for the snow -and wind whizzed and shrieked around them more madly than ever. Once -Joel Runnell thought he would have to give up. But he set his teeth hard -and pushed on, until at last he saw a flash of fire, and knew he was -close to the shelter. He set up a feeble shout: - -“Hello, Fred! Start up that fire, quick! And make a pot of hot coffee! -I’ve found ’em, and they’re half frozen to death!” - -At this cry Fred appeared. He was scared, but realizing that rapid -action was necessary, he piled the wood on the camp fire and set a pot -of water to boiling. Then he helped the others into the shelter and -arranged the blankets afresh, that all of them might be made as warm and -comfortable as possible. - -Joe recovered before long, but they had to work over Harry a good half -hour before old Runnell pronounced him out of danger. One of his ears -had been nipped by the cold, and so had his left foot. - -“It was a close call,” said Harry, when he could talk. “I sank down just -as if I was in a dream. I felt horrible just before that, but that -feeling passed completely away.” - -“Such a sleep is what hunters call the sleep of death,” answered Joel -Runnell, with a shudder. “I had it once, when I was a young man. I was -half frozen, and it took me weeks to get over it.” - -The hot coffee served to warm all of them up, and as soon as he felt -able, Runnell went out to cut more wood, assisted by Fred. The latter -wanted to go out on the lake and bring in the abandoned deer, but the -old hunter would not listen to it. - -“We’ll wait until the storm is over,” he said. “No use of risking your -life now.” - -The wood was piled on both sides of the shelter, and this helped to -protect them from the wind. Runnell also placed a big flat rock over the -fire, and when his was very hot, transferred it to the center of the -shelter, and put another rock to heat. - -“That will make a footwarmer,” he said. “And when it is cold, we can -exchange it for the one that is now getting warm,” and this was done, -much to the satisfaction of everybody. - -All that night the snow fell as hard as ever, and toward morning the -wind increased to such a degree that they were afraid the pines would -come down over their heads. Nobody could sleep, and they crouched near -the shelter entrance, ready to leap out at the first intimation of -danger. At a distance they heard a large tree come down with the report -of a cannon. The snow sifted in despite all they could do to keep it -out, and they had to work constantly to keep from being snowed under and -smothered. - -“And to think that old Skeetles and Dan Marcy are having it as -comfortable as you please at the lodge,” said Joe, in deep disgust. -“It’s a shame!” - -“Don’t say a word,” put in Fred. “For two pins I’d go over there and -clear them out at the point of a gun.” - -“In one way they are worse off than we are,” came from Harry. “They have -nothing but deer meat, while we have all kinds of stores. They’ll get -mighty sick of venison if they have to stay at the lodge many days.” - -“I hope they do get sick.” - -With the coming of daylight the wind went down a little. But it still -snowed as hard as ever, and old Runnell advised that the young hunters -remain in or near the shelter. - -“I’ll go out and bring in that one deer,” he said. “The other one we’ll -let go till later. We don’t really need it, anyway.” - -He waited until nearly noon before starting, and in the meantime the -boys banked up the snow all around the shelter and the fire, making a -wall six feet and more in height. - -“Now we’ve got our house inclosed in a yard,” came from Fred. - -“We’ll get a good deal more of the heat than we did before,” said Harry, -and he was right. With the wall forcing the heat into the shelter, the -place was at last really comfortable. - -Joel Runnell was out the best part of two hours, and the boys waited -anxiously for his return. At last he hove into sight, covered with snow, -and dragging one of the deer behind him. He had also brought in Harry’s -gun, which had been lost the day before. - -“No use of talking, the storm is fearful out on the lake,” said Runnell. -“And down on the shore there is a ridge of snow all of twelve feet high. -This will block everything for a while in Lakeport and elsewhere.” - -“I suppose our folks will worry about us,” put in Harry. “It’s too bad -they don’t know we are safe.” - -The remainder of the day passed slowly. Harry had brought along a small -measure of corn for popping, and they amused themselves by popping this -over the fire, salting and eating it. Joel Runnell also told them a -hunting story, which all enjoyed. - -The next day the snow continued, and on the day following the wind again -arose, sending the drifts higher than ever. Thus a Sunday was passed in -the shelter. It was not until Tuesday noon that the storm passed away as -if by magic, and the sun came out brightly. - -“Hurrah! it’s over at last, thank goodness!” cried Harry, as he leaped -outdoors. “My! but doesn’t it feel good to see the sun once more!” - -“That’s all right,” returned Fred. “But if we aren’t snowed in we are -next door to it.” - -“The sun will make the snow just right for snowshoe walking,” said Joe. -“And we ought to be able to track down some sort of game without half -trying.” - -They found the pines above the shelter fairly groaning with their weight -of snow. But back of these the ground was swept almost bare. - -“I’m going to see how the lodge looks,” said Joe, and started off. - -Equally curious, the others followed him. - -They found Snow Lodge true to its name. It was snowed in completely, -only a small portion of the roof, an upper corner of one window, and the -rough chimney being visible. - -“Skeetles and Marcy are prisoners of the storm,” said Harry, with a -grin. “Let’s give ’em a salute.” - -He made a snowball and threw it at the corner of the window, which was -open to admit the air. His aim was true, and the snow went through the -opening, followed by balls thrown by Joe and Fred. - -An instant later Hiram Skeetles’ face appeared, full of alarm, which -quickly changed to rage. - -“Hi, you, stop that!” he roared. “Stop it, I say!” - -“How are you feeling to-day?” questioned Joe, coolly. “We thought we’d -come over and give you a call.” - -“Don’t throw any more snowballs. One hit me right in the chin.” - -“And one hit me on the top of the head,” put in Marcy, who stood behind -the real estate dealer. - -“What do you mean by staying around this island after I ordered you -away?” went on Hiram Skeetles, after a pause. - -“Did you expect us to do any traveling in this storm?” asked Joel -Runnell, in return. - -“How far do you think you could travel, Mr. Skeetles?” asked Fred. “The -snow in some places is ten and twelve feet deep.” - -“Say, is it really as deep as that?” came from Dan Marcy, in deep -concern. - -“Yes, every bit of it.” - -“Then we are booked to stay here for several days longer,” said the -bully to the real estate dealer. “And I must say I am dog-tired of -nothing but deer meat to eat.” - -Marcy said this because all of the stores taken from the other party -were gone, even to the coffee and salt pork. As Harry had surmised, they -now had nothing but the deer meat, and the best of this was gone. - -“Where are you stopping?” questioned Hiram Skeetles, after another -pause. - -“That’s our business,” answered Joe, before anybody else could speak. - -“Have you—er—have you any stores you—er—want to sell?” - -“Don’t be a fool!” whispered Marcy. “They won’t let us have a thing. If -we want anything we’ll have to take it by force.” - -“Thanks, but we are not in business here,” came from Fred. - -“You—er—might let us have a few things. I’ll pay you a fair price for -them,” went on the real estate dealer. It galled him to ask the favor, -but he wanted the goods very much. - -“Haven’t you got anything?” asked Runnell. - -“We have—er—some deer meat, but that is all.” - -“And that is meat you stole from us,” put in Harry. - -“Don’t say ‘stole,’ my boy. We——” - -“Don’t call me your boy, Mr. Skeetles. I wouldn’t be your boy for a -million dollars.” - -“Don’t grow abusive, Westmore. I took the deer because I found it on my -property. If I had wished to be mean I could have kept all of your -stores and traps also.” - -“Not without a hot fight,” came from Joe. - -“Then you—er—won’t sell me anything?” said Hiram Skeetles, -disappointedly. - -“Wait, I’ve got a scheme,” whispered Fred to his two chums. - -“What is it?” both questioned, in return. - -He told them, and both grinned and then laughed outright. - -“Just the thing!” cried Harry. “That will make him either eat humble pie -or starve.” - -“What are you going to do?” questioned Joel Runnell. - -“I’ll show you,” answered Fred, and advanced a little closer to the -lodge window. - -“Well, what do you say?” demanded Hiram Skeetles. - -“We’ll let you have some stores on one condition, Mr. Skeetles.” - -“And what is that?” - -“That you will start for home as soon as it is safe to do so, and will -leave us in undisputed possession of this lodge until our hunting tour -comes to an end.” - - - - - CHAPTER XV - A MIDNIGHT VISITOR - - -Hiram Skeetles’ surprise was great when Fred made his declaration, and -for several seconds he felt unable to reply. - -“You—er—want me to let you use this lodge after all?” he said, slowly. - -“That is what I said, Mr. Skeetles. And let me add that it will be a -good bargain for you to make with us.” - -“I don’t see it. I came here a-purpose to make ye leave.” - -“Well, ‘circumstances alter cases,’ you know. You didn’t expect to be -caught in a blizzard, did you?” - -“No, if I had known it was going to snow like this I’d stayed home.” - -“We will do the lodge no harm,” put in Joe. - -“Fact is, we’ve already mended the roof and the window, as you can see.” - -“Yes, I know, but——” - -“But what?” came from Harry. - -“Never mind now.” Hiram Skeetles had been on the point of mentioning his -missing pocketbook and the papers, but he checked himself. “How long do -you intend to stay?” - -“Not over two or three weeks at the most.” - -“Hum!” The real estate dealer paused and scratched his head in -perplexity. “What do you say, Dan?” he questioned of Marcy. - -“I reckon we had best make a bargain with ’em,” answered the bully, who -thought much of good eating. “Even if they stay here they can’t do much -in such a fall of snow.” - -“Yes, but my pocketbook,” whispered Hiram Skeetles. - -“More than likely, if it’s around, the snow has covered it completely.” - -“I wouldn’t have ’em find that for a—a good deal.” - -“All right, do as you please. But I want something to eat besides deer -meat. You promised to take good care of me if I came on the trip with -you.” - -“Do you want to make terms?” shouted Joe. - -“I reckon as how I might jest as well,” came slowly from Skeetles. “What -will ye let me have?” he asked, cautiously. - -“Whatever we can spare that you need.” - -“Ye ain’t going to charge me for it, are ye?” - -“No, we’ll give it to you free and clear, on the condition we have -already named.” - -“When do you want to come to the lodge?” - -“As soon as you leave it.” - -“And that must be inside of a day or two,” added Fred. - -“All right, I’ll agree,” said Hiram Skeetles, with something like an -inward groan. “When do we git them stores?” - -“You can come down to our place now and get them.” - -“We can’t come out by the door; we’ll have to climb through the window,” -put in Dan Marcy. - -“We don’t care how you come,” answered Joe. “But you must leave your -guns behind,” he added, suddenly. - -“What for?” - -“Because we won’t trust you with them,” put in Fred, bluntly. - -This did not please Hiram Skeetles nor the bully, but the young hunters -were firm, and were backed up by Joel Runnell, and in the end the pair -in the lodge came forth unarmed. - -“Ye ain’t going to play no trick on us, are ye?” questioned the real -estate dealer, suspiciously. - -“No, we’ll treat you fair and square,” said Joe. - -They led the way to the shelter under the pines, and allowed those from -Snow Lodge to come in over the snow wall to the side of the camp fire. -Then all hands looked over the stores still remaining, and Runnell -announced the articles which he thought might be spared. - -“’Tain’t very much,” sniffed Hiram Skeetles. - -“It’s the best we can do,” came from Joe. “Take it or leave it.” - -“Oh, we’ll take it,” put in Dan Marcy, quickly, and gathered up some of -the articles as he spoke. - -“Hold on!” cried Harry. “Before you touch a thing you must promise us -faithfully to leave the lodge by this time to-morrow.” - -“We will leave—unless another heavy storm comes up,” answered Hiram -Skeetles. - -“If you are not out, in case it stays clear, we shall consider that we -have the right to put you out,” said Joe. “These goods pay for our lease -of Snow Lodge for three weeks, starting from to-morrow noon.” - -“All right,” growled the real estate dealer; and then he and Dan Marcy -were allowed to depart with the stores which had been allotted to them. - -“I guess we’ve made a pretty good bargain with them,” said Joe, when -they were alone. “Now we can move into the lodge and fix it up to suit -ourselves.” - -“It was like pulling teeth to get old Skeetles to consent,” came from -Fred. “It gives him a regular fit to have us on the island. I must say I -can’t understand it.” - -“I’d really like to know if those missing papers have anything to do -with it,” mused Harry. “If he lost them here I’d give a good deal to -find them.” - -“Did you ever hear where that boat struck?” asked Joe of Joel Runnell. - -“It seems to me it struck just south of Needle Rock,” was the answer. -“But I’m not certain. I might find out, though.” - -“Where is Needle Rock?” - -“On the other shore of the island, about half a mile from here.” - -“Well, I’m going there some day and have a look around.” - -The rest of the day passed quietly. Some time later Runnell went off on -his snowshoes to look for the fourth deer—the one Harry had abandoned. -When he came back he said he had found only the head and a few bones. - -“The wolves carried off the rest,” he said. “And they ate up those dead -wolves on the main shore, too.” - -“Well, I don’t want to meet any more of those critters,” said Harry, -grimly. - -“Nor do I,” added his brother. “The only good wolf is a dead one.” - -“And I don’t know that he is good for much,” laughed Fred. - -Strange to say, with the going down of the sun the wind came up again, a -steady breeze, gradually increasing to little short of a gale. - -“We are going to have another wild night,” said old Runnell. “We’ll have -to watch the fire.” - -“By all means,” cried Fred. “We don’t want to burn up.” - -All hands sat up until after nine o’clock, listening to the wind as it -whistled through the trees and hurled the snow against the shelter. -Outside the stars shone brightly, but there was no moon. - -“Hark! I hear a bark!” said Fred, presently. “Can there be a dog -around?” - -“Marcy owns a dog or two,” answered Joe. “But I didn’t know he had them -here.” - -“That was the bark of a fox,” came from Joel Runnell. “It’s a wonder to -me we haven’t heard them before.” - -“Perhaps the wolves have made them keep quiet,” suggested Harry. - -“More than likely, or else they have been snowed up.” - -The young hunters were sleepy, and it did not take any of them very long -to sink into slumber after retiring. Then Runnell fixed the fire for the -night, and laid down close to the opening of the shelter. - -A half hour went by and the fire began to die down. The wind kept on -increasing, and some of the stars went under a cloud, making the night -quite dark. - -From the direction of Snow Lodge a form crept into view. It was Dan -Marcy, with his coat buttoned up to his ears, and his slouch hat pulled -far down over his brow. - -With cautious steps Marcy reached the wall of snow and peered over into -the inclosure. By the faint firelight he saw the feet and lower limbs of -Joel Runnell, and, listening intently, heard the old hunter snoring. - -“All asleep,” he murmured to himself. “Good enough. Now we’ll see if we -can’t have the stores we want, and a little more besides.” - -As silently as a cat he climbed over the snow wall and approached the -fire. Beside the large shelter was a small one, and here rested the -various traps and stores of our friends. - -Dan Marcy had brought with him a large but thin blanket, and this he now -spread on the ground, and began to place in it such articles as he -wanted, and which the young hunters and old Runnell had denied him. -There was a tin of coffee and another of sugar, and a fine, thick slice -of bacon that made his mouth water. - -“I’ll have that bacon out of the way before they get up,” he told -himself. “And a cup of strong coffee will be just the thing for washing -it down with.” - -He had these articles and several others in the blanket, and was on the -point of making a bundle of them, when there came a sudden and -unexpected interruption. From the top of the wall of snow came a short, -sharp bark, that caused him to jump. - -“A dog!” he thought. “I didn’t know they had one.” And then, as the bark -was repeated, he leaped back in alarm. - -It was only a fox, but Marcy did not know this, and felt sure he was on -the point of being discovered. - -“Shut up!” he whispered. “Shut up, do you hear?” And then, as the fox -barked again, he ran for the other side of the wall of snow and began to -climb to the top. - -The barking of the fox aroused both Runnell and Harry, and each leaped -up, reaching for his gun as he did so. - -“What is it?” asked the young hunter. - -“A fox—and he’s pretty close,” was the answer. “Reckon as how I had best -give him a shot to scare him off.” - -Running outside, Runnell looked around, but in the semi-darkness could -see but little. Aiming high, he fired his gun. As he did this he heard a -yell some distance away. - -“Don’t shoot me! Don’t shoot!” - -“Who’s there?” he demanded, but this question was not answered. - -The discharging of the gun aroused the others of the party, and all came -rushing out to the fireside. - -“What did you fire at?” asked Joe. - -“Well, I thought I fired after a fox,” came dryly from old Runnell. “But -I kind of reckon he was a two-legged one.” - -“Do you mean some person was around here?” - -“Exactly.” - -“But I heard a fox bark,” came from Harry. - -“So did I, lad, and after I fired I heard somebody yell, ‘Don’t shoot -me!’ ’Pears to me it was Dan Marcy’s voice, too.” - -“What could have brought him over this time of night?” asked Fred. - -“Here is what brought him over!” ejaculated Harry, who had stirred up -the camp fire. And he pointed to the blanket and the things lying in it. - -Joe gave a low whistle. - -“Going to rob us, eh? It’s lucky we scared him off.” - -“Well, that is what I call downright mean,” said Fred. “And after we let -them have those other things, too! We ought to go over and have it out -with them right now.” - -“Don’t do anything hasty,” interposed Joel Runnell. “I reckon Marcy -feels mean enough at being caught in the act.” - -“Oh, he hasn’t any feelings,” growled Harry. “He’s a wolf in man’s -clothing.” - -The matter was talked over for some time, and it was decided to let the -affair rest until morning. - -“And then we can all give Marcy and Skeetles a piece of our mind,” said -Joe. - -“Do you think they’ll come back?” asked Fred. - -“Not a bit of it,” answered old Runnell. - -And satisfied of this, all turned in again to get what sleep they could -ere the sun came up. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - BACK TO THE LODGE - - -But the excitement of that night was not yet at an end. - -As mentioned before, the wind had increased steadily, until it was -blowing as fiercely as it had during the blizzard. It tore through the -tall pines and other trees, swaying them viciously, and causing them to -creak and groan as if in pain. It hurled the snow in long drifts and -sent every living creature for miles around into cover. - -But the young hunters and old Runnell were too tired to listen to the -wind, and it was not until an extra heavy blast caused one of the trees -directly back of the shelter to split apart, that Runnell and Fred -awoke. - -“What a wind!” cried the stout youth. “Never heard it blow so in my -whole life!” - -“Thought I heard a tree snap,” returned the old hunter. “Listen!” - -The others were now awake, and all listened as directed. Then came -another gust, and all felt the back end of the shelter move as the roots -of the biggest of the pines were loosened. - -“Creation! I think the tree is coming down!” ejaculated Joe. “Perhaps we -had better——” - -“Run, boys, run!” shouted Runnell, leaping up. “Run for your lives!” - -They needed no second warning, but leaped from the shelter with all the -alacrity of which they were capable. They did not stop at the camp fire, -but, led by Harry, leaped the wall of snow and scattered to the right -and the left. - -They were not an instant too soon, for the next gust of wind brought -down, not one tree, but two, smashing the shelter flat, and scattering -the burning sticks of the fire. The end of one limb hit Fred, and hurled -him on his breast, and old Runnell had his left ear badly clipped. - -“Oh, my! Sa—save me!” spluttered Fred. “Take the tree off of me, -somebody!” - -Joe and Harry ran forward, and assisted him to arise. Then they yelled -to old Runnell, who was in the midst of the pine branches. - -“I’m all right,” was the answering cry. “Got my ear pretty badly -scratched, but that don’t count in such a smash-up as this.” And then -the old hunter joined the others. - -The two fallen trees had loosened a third, so they did not dare to go -into the branches to rescue their traps and stores. The branches lying -over the camp fire soon caught, and then the trees began to blaze up -like huge torches. - -“Our traps——” began Joe, when, with a crash, the third tree came down. -This hit the fire a heavy blow, and for the moment it was partly -extinguished. - -“Now it’s safe enough to go in!” came from old Runnell. “Put out the -blaze with snow, boys, or everything will be burned up.” - -They came closer, and began to pile in all the snow they could, taking -huge chunks from what was left of the wall for that purpose. By working -steadily for five minutes, they got the fire under control, and then -went in and kicked out what little remained. - -“Well, this is the worst yet!” groaned Fred, after the excitement was -over. “Here we are, homeless, in the middle of the night, and with the -thermometer about ten degrees below nothing at all.” - -“We can be thankful that we are to have the lodge to-morrow,” came from -Harry. “It would be no fun building another shelter in such a wind as -this.” - -“And we can be thankful, too, that the fire didn’t get the best of us. -Our stores, traps, guns and everything might have been burned up, and -then we would have been worse off than old Skeetles and Dan Marcy.” - -“It’s almost morning,” said old Runnell. “I’ll try to get out a few -blankets, and then we can make ourselves as comfortable as possible -among the tree branches.” - -This was agreed to, and with an ax that Joe picked up, they cut out a -small shelter, throwing some of the pine brush down as a flooring, and -placing the rest over their heads. This made a place not as comfortable -as that which had been wrecked, but something which, as Harry declared, -“was a heap sight better than nothing at all.” - -With the coming up of the sun the wind died down, and by eight o’clock -all of the party felt quite comfortable once more. A fire was built in a -safe place, and while Harry prepared the morning meal the others chopped -their way through the tree branches to where their traps and stores lay, -half buried in the snow. Only a small portion of their things had -suffered injury, which gratified them exceedingly. Even Harry’s camera -remained intact. - -“We might as well move over to the lodge at once,” said Fred, while they -were eating. “There is no sense in staying out in the cold, and, -besides, we want to tell Marcy what we think of him before he goes -away.” - -“I think one of us had best stay here and watch the things,” said Joe. - -Lots were cast, and it fell to Harry to remain at the spot. A little -later the others put on their snowshoes and journeyed to the vicinity of -Snow Lodge, a tiresome walk, for the snow now lay in all sorts of -drifts. - -“We won’t be able to do much hunting for a few days,” remarked Joel -Runnell. “We’ll have to wait till the sun puts something of a crust on -the snow. Then snowshoe walking will be much easier.” - -When they came in sight of the lodge they were surprised to find the -door and the one window wide open. There were tracks around the doorway, -showing that Hiram Skeetles and Dan Marcy had left not a great while -before. - -“They are gone!” burst out Harry. - -“They were afraid we would kick up a row over the attempt to steal our -stores,” said Joe. - -“It was mean of them to let the snow come in through the door and the -window,” was old Runnell’s comment. “But neither of them know the -meaning of fairness.” - -Going inside the lodge they saw that all was in confusion and very -dirty. Skeetles and Marcy had had an early breakfast, and had left the -bones and other scraps lying where they dropped. The fire had been put -out with snow and the smoke hung thick under the roof. - -“It will take us the best part of a day to straighten out things again,” -said Joe. “But never mind, I am glad they are gone. I hope they don’t -come back.” - -“They’ll have a rough journey to Lakeport or to Brookfield,” said Joel -Runnell. - -“Do you suppose they’ll walk the whole distance?” - -“It isn’t likely. They probably came as far as Paley’s farm on -horseback.” - -By noon time they had shifted their traps and stores once more, and cut -some additional firewood. The sleeping-room of the lodge was also -cleaned out, and fresh boughs placed in the bunks, and directly after -dinner they cleaned up the living-room, until it looked almost as tidy -as a room at home. - -“My daughter Cora ought to see this,” said old Runnell. “It would please -her. She thinks a hunters’ camp is the dirtiest place on earth.” - -“I wish she was here,” said Joe. “Then she could keep house for us, and -we’d feel quite at home.” - -“She can’t come, lad. When I am away she stays with her Aunt Mary Case, -who needs help. But if she was here, she could do some fine cooking for -us, I can tell you that.” - -After the general cleaning up, the whole party were content to rest. It -was pleasant to sit in front of the genial fire, especially after the -sun had sunk behind the trees on the western shore of the island. - -They had taken account of the stores on hand, and found they would have -to economize with certain things to make them last even ten days. - -“But we won’t starve,” said old Runnell. “We have plenty of deer meat, -and we can get a good supply of small game and fish.” - -“I feel safer in the lodge,” said Fred, on retiring. “It would be a hard -matter for the wolves or foxes to get at us here.” - -“How about snakes?” laughed Harry. - -“Ugh! don’t mention them! I can feel that thing crawling on me yet!” And -the stout youth gave a shiver. - -Now, that they had gotten rid of their enemies, the lads felt -particularly light-hearted, and the mention of the snake set Harry to -thinking. Unknown to Fred, he called Joe to one side, and both procured -a bit of rope from one of the sleds, and to this tied two long threads, -one at each end. - -Fred occupied a bunk between that of Joe and that of Harry, and the two -threads were run across the stout youth’s resting place in such a -fashion that the bit of heavy rope could be moved back and forth at -will. - -Soon Fred was sleeping, and then the two others threw the bit of rope on -his breast and began to move it back and forth. No sooner had it touched -Fred’s face than he roused up with a start. - -“Oh!” he cried, and tried to sit up, when the rope glided over his -breast and his shoulder. “A snake! A snake! Oh, I’m a dead boy!” And he -leaped up, yelling like a wild Indian. Then the rope got twisted between -his legs, and he danced around more madly than ever. - -“What’s the matter with you?” asked Harry, sitting up. At a signal Joe -had let go of his thread and his brother had jerked the rope out of -sight. - -“A snake! It crawled right over my face!” - -“Where is it?” questioned old Runnell, and grabbed up his gun. - -The lantern was lit, and also a torch, and they looked around; but, of -course, no reptile could be found. - -“I guess you were dreaming,” said Joe, innocently. “You were talking -about that other snake, you know.” - -“I—I don’t think so,” answered Fred, sheepishly. - -“There is no snake here,” said Joel Runnell, after a long examination. -“Joe must be right; you dreamed it, Fred.” - -“Well, if I did, that dream was mightly life-like,” said Fred. - -He took the lantern and examined his bunk closely. But nothing was -wrong, and after a while he followed the others and laid down again. - -Harry and Joe waited a reasonable length of time, and then Harry crawled -forth to adjust the rope and threads once more. Again the rope slid over -Fred’s face, and once more he set up a howl. - -“It’s a snake! I felt it again!” he yelled. “He’s right here in the -bunk!” - -“Step on him!” cried old Runnell, and got his gun a second time. - -Harry tried to jerk the rope away, but before he could do so Fred came -down on it with his bare foot. Then the threads broke, and the rope -remained on the floor in front of the bunk, while Fred leaped away, as -if he had stepped on a hot plate. - -Lantern in one hand and gun in the other, Joel Runnell ran to kill the -snake. But when he saw the object on the floor he gave a loud laugh. - -“Call that a snake,” he roared. “It’s only a bit of rope.” - -“A—a rope?” repeated Fred. He bent forward. “Well, I never!” Then he -caught sight of the broken threads, and like a flash realized the joke -that had been played on him. “Oh, you—you rascals!” he cried, and -catching up the rope, he went first for Harry, and then Joe, and -belabored them soundly. Both were laughing, and this made Fred really -angry. - -“All right, laugh all you please!” he burst out, suddenly. “It was a -mean thing to do. To-morrow I’m going to leave you and go home.” - -And then, without a word more, he retired for the night. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - A SEARCH AND A BEAR - - -“Do you think he’ll really go?” whispered Harry to Joe. - -“I guess not, Harry. But he is mad, no doubt of that.” - -“I didn’t want to make him mad, Joe. And he hit me a pretty hard one -over the shoulders, too.” - -“Fred hates to be fooled. Perhaps we had better talk to him about it.” - -“No; that will make him madder than ever.” - -The two boys retired, but it was a long while before either of them -could get to sleep. They hated to be on the “outs” with their chum, and -could not bear to think of Fred leaving them. - -The stout youth _was_ angry, and showed it even at breakfast, when he -scarcely replied to the questions put to him. The bit of rope still lay -on the floor, and picking it up, he gave it a vicious toss out of the -window. - -“There, Fred, let that end it,” said Joe, kindly. “It wasn’t just the -right thing to do, and Harry and I are ready to acknowledge it.” - -“Oh, yes, after it’s all over,” grumbled the stout youth. “If I had -played that joke on you, what then?” - -“We’d have to put up with it,” answered Harry. “Come, call it off.” - -“I will—after I have squared the account,” replied Fred. But after that -he seemed to feel better. - -The weather had moderated considerably, and where the sun struck the -snow the latter sank rapidly. - -“There will be a good crust by to-morrow,” said Joel Runnell, and so it -proved. All put on snowshoes and found walking excellent. - -“What are we going to do to-day?” questioned Harry. - -“I’ve been thinking that I would like to try for that bear,” answered -the old hunter. “That is, if I can get on his track.” - -“I’ll tell you what I’d like to do,” put in Joe. “I’d like to pay a -visit to Needle Rock and take a look around for that missing -pocketbook.” - -“You won’t find much with the snow as deep as it is now,” came from -Fred. - -“We might tramp around that way just for fun,” said old Runnell. “We may -bring down some game on the way.” - -“Will you leave the lodge alone?” asked Joe. “Is it safe to do so? -Skeetles and Marcy may come back.” - -“I’ve got an idea, boys. Let us fasten the door up from the inside, and -then come out through the window. After that we can nail that strip over -the window, and then the place will be as tight as a drum.” - -This was agreed to, and a little later found them on their way around -the shore of Pine Island. The weather was all that could be hoped for, -and the boys felt so happy that they were inclined to whistle, until -Joel Runnell stopped them. - -“You can’t go on a hunt whistling, unless you want the game to know -you’re coming,” he said, quizzically. - -“Oh, I forgot that,” said Joe, and stopped at once, and the others did -the same. - -Harry had his camera with him, and took several time exposures, using a -very small stop or opening, so that the negatives would be sharp and -clear. Then he took a snap shot of Joel Runnell shooting at a flock of -birds—a picture which, later on, proved to be all that could be desired. -He also took pictures of Fred and Joe aiming at an imaginary rabbit, -said rabbit being a fur cap propped up on a bit of brushwood. - -“I’ll have a famous collection by the time I get home,” he said. “And -I’ll print two sets of pictures, so that Fred can have one set.” And -this promise caused Fred to forget the last of the ill feeling he had -had over the “snake” joke. - -On and on they went, occasionally slipping down an incline with their -snowshoes and landing in a heap at the bottom. Then Fred, who was a -little to the left of the others, suddenly set up a shout. - -“Hi, Joe and Harry, come here, quick! I want to show you something!” - -Both ran forward to see what their chum had discovered, and a moment -later went headlong into a hollow several yards in diameter and equally -deep. There had been some brushwood over part of the opening, but this -gave way with them, and let them down so rapidly that they could not -save themselves. Then Fred pushed on a snowbank and that followed, all -but burying them. - -“Great Scott!” spluttered Joe. “What a tumble!” And he scraped the snow -from his face. - -“What did you call us here for?” asked Harry. “Don’t you think we ever -saw a hole before?” - -“I wanted you to see if there were any snakes down there,” answered -Fred, with a grin. - -“Of all things!” gasped Joe. “Just you wait till I get out.” - -“We’ll put him down into the hole,” said Harry, as he scooped some snow -from his ear. - -“Not much you won’t!” answered Fred, and ran off to rejoin old Runnell. - -Joe and Harry had all they could do to get out of the hole, and even -then the snow got down their sleeves and collars in a fashion that was -far from comfortable. They ran after Fred, intending to at least “wash -his face,” but the stout youth took good care to keep out of their -reach. - -“Come, boys, you must keep quiet, or else we won’t bring down a thing,” -remonstrated old Runnell, and after that they followed his advice and -moved on as noiselessly as possible. - -A little ahead of them was a tiny brook which, in the summer time, -flowed from the hill into the lake. Here some of the rocks along the -bank were swept bare of snow. - -Without previous warning Joel Runnell held up his hand for the others to -halt. On some of the rocks, several small weasel-like creatures were -sunning themselves. He brought his gun up and the others did the same. - -“Fire!” said old Runnell, and the four firearms rang out almost -simultaneously, and two of the game fell dead where they sat. - -“Hurrah! that’s a haul!” cried Harry, enthusiastically. - -“What are they?” questioned Fred. “They look something like mink.” - -“They are what we call mountain brook mink, Fred,” answered the old -hunter. “The best kind to bring down, too, so far as the fur is -concerned. Those furs are quite valuable, as you must know.” - -“I know mink is valuable,” answered the stout youth. “My mother has a -collar made of it.” - -Having secured the game, they moved on once more. Joe was now slightly -in advance and brought down a rabbit he saw scooting over the snow. - -After this nothing was sighted for a long while. Then Fred, who was -growing hungry, proposed that they stop for dinner. - -The others were willing, and a halt was made in the shelter of some -hemlock trees and elderberry bushes. Not far away was a hickory tree, -and the wind-swept ground was full of nuts which even the squirrels had -failed to carry off. - -The stop lasted for fully an hour, and then, thoroughly rested, they -pushed on. Only a few birds were sighted, however, and these were so far -away that to bring any of them down proved impossible. - -“There is Needle Rock,” said Joel Runnell, at last, and pointed out to -where a rock arose about fifty feet from the lake shore. It was a tall, -sharp-pointed affair, and the wind had swept it entirely free from snow. - -“And where was that boat wrecked, do you think?” questioned Joe, with -interest. - -“Just about over yonder, Joe. Of course, I can’t tell the exact -location, but it wasn’t over fifty yards from that point.” - -The young hunters all moved down to the lake front and tramped up and -down, over the rocks and among the snow-laden bushes. Here and there -they shoved some of the snow aside, but brought nothing of interest to -light. - -“I guess it’s a wild-goose chase, looking for that pocketbook or those -papers,” said Harry at length. - -“It’s a good deal like looking for a pin in a haystack,” returned Fred. - -“We’ll stand more chance of finding something after the snow clears -away,” put in Joe, with a sigh. “That is, if it is really here.” - -“And if it is here the melting snow may carry it out into the lake,” -said his brother. - -They took another look around, Joel Runnell prying up some old brushwood -and dead tree limbs, and by that time the descending sun warned them -that if they wished to return to Snow Lodge before nightfall they had -better start without delay. - -“Yes, let’s get back,” said Harry, who was tired out. “And then we can -have a bit of roast rabbit for a change.” - -“And I’m going to make some biscuits for supper,” put in Joe. “We -haven’t had fresh biscuits since we were at the lodge before.” - -Somewhat downhearted over their failure to locate the missing pocketbook -or papers, they turned toward home. All had known it was rather a -forlorn hope at the best, yet each had secretly hoped that something -would be brought to light. - -“But I suppose Hiram Skeetles looked high and low for it before he gave -the hunt up,” was Joe’s comment. “And his eyes are as sharp as those of -a hawk.” - -The tramp to the lodge seemed a long one to the tired young hunters, and -Harry felt inclined to rest half a dozen times. When they at last came -in sight of the snow-clad building, it was quite dark. - -“Now to jump through the window and open the door!” exclaimed Joe, and, -throwing down his gun, he rushed forward. Then he uttered an ejaculation -of astonishment: “The window is wide open. Did we leave it that way?” - -“Certainly not,” answered Joel Runnell. - -“Somebody has been here, after all,” put in Harry. - -“Must have been old Skeetles and Marcy. What will we do if they have -cleaned us out?” - -“I’ll soon find out,” continued Joe, and leaped through the window into -the living-room of the cabin. - -The fire had died down until there was little or nothing left of it. -Stumbling across the floor, he kicked it into a blaze and threw on a few -extra sticks of wood. After this he reached for the lantern and lit it. - -“Well, what have you found?” asked Harry, looking in at the window. - -“Nothing, so far,” answered his brother. “Everything seems to be all -right, although the bench is overturned and—yes—somebody has carried off -that piece of venison I hung up near the window!” - -“That looks as if some wild animal was around, Joe.” - -“Creation! I didn’t think of that. Do you see anything outside—I mean -footprints?” - -“No, it’s too dark now to see anything. Better open the door.” - -Joe started to do so. But as he crossed the floor a sound from the -sleeping apartment caused him to halt. - -“Who’s there?” he cried. - -The only answer was a soft pat-pat of feet, and a moment later a big, -black bear came into view. The beast stared at Joe in astonishment, and -then arose on its hind legs and came for him, uttering a low, savage -growl as it advanced. - -The youth did not know what to do. He was unarmed, and Harry had left -the window, so he could not obtain immediate assistance. He leaped close -to the fire and as he did so the bear leaped after him. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - A FIRE, AND WHAT FOLLOWED - - -“Get back there!” - -Joe uttered the words mechanically, and as he did so he crouched close -to the fire, and snatching a burning brand from the side, held it up in -front of him. - -As is well known, all wild beasts dread the fire, and at once the bear -paused. Then it arose again on its hind legs and uttered a roar that -almost shook the lodge. - -“Hello! what does that mean?” cried Fred and Harry, in a breath. - -“It means there’s a wild animal in the lodge,” answered Joel Runnell, -and leaped toward the window, gun in hand. - -In the meantime the bear continued to stand in front of Joe, as if -meditating an attack in spite of the fire. Once it raised a fore paw as -if to strike the brand from the young hunter’s hand, but Joe did not -permit this, and now the boy caught up a second stick, which was blazing -at one end, and threatened the bear. - -Again there was a roar of commingled rage and fear, and the bear leaped -back, wrecking the table as it did so. - -It must be confessed that Joe was badly alarmed. He felt that he was in -close quarters, and unless somebody came to his help very quickly, the -bear would, in some manner, get the better of him. - -Glancing toward the window, he saw a dark object there. It was the head -of Joel Runnell, and next followed the glistening barrel of the old -hunter’s rifle. - -“Hold up the light, Joe,” called old Runnell, and at the sound of his -voice the bear wheeled around and stared toward the window with -interest. - -Crack! It was the rifle that rang out. But just as Joel Runnell pulled -upon the trigger the bear turned to one side, so that the ball merely -grazed its neck and side. Then came another roar, and, leaping over the -wrecked table, the beast dove through the doorway leading to the -sleeping apartment of the lodge and disappeared. - -“Where did he go to?” cried old Runnell, as he lost no time in -reloading. - -“Into the sleeping-room. I don’t think he is hurt very much.” - -The doorway was not far from the chimney, and with the firebrands still -in his hands, Joe made his way to the door. Then the fastening was -removed and he plunged outside. - -“Good!” cried Harry. “Are you hurt?” - -“Not a scratch. But it was a close shave,” and Joe heaved a sigh of -relief. - -“What is the bear doing?” asked Fred. - -“I don’t know.” - -“Fasten the door from the outside,” said Joel Runnell. “We don’t want to -lose that animal.” - -A stout stick of wood was handy, and this was propped up against the -door, so that it could not be budged unless torn from its hinges. - -While the young hunters were doing this Joel Runnell watched the window, -with his rifle ready for use, should the bear make its appearance. - -“You don’t expect to go in there after the bear, do you?” questioned -Fred. “I wouldn’t do that for a million dollars.” - -“I shan’t go in there yet,” answered the old hunter. “I know a trick -worth two of that.” - -“What will you do?” asked Harry. - -“Let us try smoking him out. While I continue to watch the window, you -get a damp tree branch and set it on fire. Then chop a small hole in the -side of the lodge close to the ground, and let the smoke drift inside.” - -“That’s a good plan,” said Joe. - -The damp branch was procured without difficulty, and soon it was burning -slightly and smoking thickly. While Fred and Joe held the branch, Harry -cut a small hole as directed. In answer to the sound of the ax came a -growl from the bear, proving that the beast was on the alert within. - -“Now, Joe, come alongside of me with your shotgun!” called out old -Runnell. “We’ll make sure of him if he does come out.” - -Both stood almost facing the window and about twenty feet from it. Then -Fred and Harry let down the branch in the snow, so that the thick smoke -could drift directly into the hole that had been cut. - -In less than half a minute they could hear the bear moving around the -inside of the lodge. They heard the beast give a snort, followed by a -sneeze. - -“He’s catching it,” whispered Joe, with his gun raised. “I don’t think -he’ll stand it much longer.” - -An instant after there came a savage growl, and then straight through -the window shot the black bear, landing at the very feet of those -standing to receive it. Crack! went the rifle, and bang! came from the -shotgun, and the beast tumbled over and began to claw at the air and the -snow, sending the chunks of the latter flying in all directions. - -“Hurrah, we’ve got him!” ejaculated Joe, and discharged the second -barrel of his gun close to the bear’s head. This finished the beast, and -it soon stretched out and lay still. - -“What a big fellow,” was Harry’s comment, as he came forward to inspect -the game. “Joe, you can be glad he didn’t get his paws around you. He -might have hugged you to death.” - -“I am thankful,” was the answer. “But, say, won’t we have fine bear -steaks now! We’ll have all the meat we want, and some to take home in -the bargain.” - -“Not to say anything about the skin,” put in Fred. - -“Oh, that is to go to Runnell,” said Joe, quickly. “I’m sure he deserves -it,” and the others said the same. - -All were so interested in looking the big prize over that the burning -tree branch was, for the time being, forgotten. All had also forgotten -the fire in the lodge and the burning sticks Joe had dropped on the -floor. The wreck of the table was near the sticks, and in a few minutes -Snow Lodge was blazing inside and out. - -“Hello, the place is on fire!” shouted Harry, who was the first to -notice the condition of affairs. - -“So it is!” added old Runnell. He ran to the door and threw it open. -“Quick, boys, or the lodge will be burnt to the ground!” - -With the door and the window open, the fire obtained a good draught, and -of a sudden a blaze shot up, inside and out, that quickly mounted to the -roof. - -“This is worse than I supposed,” said old Runnell, and ran in to stamp -the blaze out. But the smoke was blinding and he soon had to retreat. -Then Joe went in, but when some sparks touched him on the cheek he fell -back also. - -“The lodge is doomed!” groaned Fred. “And everything inside will be -burnt up!” - -“My camera films!” cried Harry. “They are on the shelf! I don’t want to -lose them,” and before anybody could stop him he had leaped into the -burning structure. - -“Harry! Harry! come out of there!” yelled Joe. But the younger brother -paid no attention to the warning. On the shelf were all the pictures he -had taken since coming on the outing, and he thought more of these than -he did of the traps and stores. - -The flames were now curling all over the roof of the lodge, and with no -water at hand it was easy to see that the structure could not be saved. -Joel Runnell ran in, and in the smoke felt around for Harry and found -him clinging to the shelf, with the rolls of films clutched tightly in -one hand. - -“Come out,” he said, in a choking voice. “Come,” and he led the -half-suffocated boy, into the open air. The water was running from -Harry’s eyes, and it was fully a minute before he could get his breath -to talk. - -Finding they could do nothing to stop the fire, they set to work to save -what stores they could. This was not an easy task, and they recovered -little more than a couple of blankets, a tin can of coffee, a bag of -salt and a large box of matches. One of the blankets was burnt along the -edge. - -Once having gained headway, the flames roared and crackled merrily, -lighting up the clearing and the forest for a goodly distance around. As -the fire increased, they dragged their sleds, the bear and other game, -and the saved stores to a safe distance. - -“Do you think it will set fire to the trees?” questioned Fred. - -“No, there isn’t wind enough for that,” answered Joel Runnell. - -“I guess I am responsible for that fire,” came from Joe. “I remember now -that I dropped those burning sticks on the floor when I opened the -door.” - -“And we left the branch at the hole,” said Harry. “Hiram Skeetles will -make us pay for the damage done, I suppose.” - -“The lodge wasn’t worth much,” put in Fred. “Not over twenty or thirty -dollars at the most. The back end was almost ready to fall down.” - -“Well, if the courts decide that this island and the lodge belong to -Skeetles we’ll pay for the building,” said Joe. “But you can be sure I -won’t pay him any fancy price.” - -In less than half an hour from the start of the conflagration the roof -of the lodge fell with a crash, sending the sparks flying in all -directions. Then one side after another followed, and soon all that -remained of the building was a heap of smoldering timbers and the -red-hot stones of the rude chimney. - -“That’s the end of Snow Lodge,” said Joe. “We didn’t have very much good -of the place, after all.” - -“The question is, where are we to go next?” put in Fred. “The other -shelter was wrecked by the wind. We seem to be unfortunate, no matter -where we stay.” - -“Let us have something to eat first,” said Harry. “I’m as hungry as a—a -bear.” - -“Then you can dine on bear,” answered Fred, and this caused a laugh in -spite of their downheartedness over the loss of the lodge. - -Supper was cooked over the smoldering ruins and on the hot rocks, and -each ate heartily. They talked matters over and decided to remain in -that vicinity until morning. - -“Then we can rake the ruins and see if we can find anything of value,” -said old Runnell. - -The night was far from being as cold as other nights had been, and they -easily made themselves comfortable among the trees close by the lodge, -propping up the sleds and covering them with branches and bushes and -chunks of snow. Nothing came to disturb them, and all slept soundly -until sunrise. - -Immediately after breakfast the ruins were raked over as the old hunter -had advised, and they found several articles of more or less value. But -everything else had been burned up clean and clear. - -“And now for new quarters,” said Joe. “I have an idea. Why not camp out -near Needle Rock? We can find a good spot among the rocks, and that will -give us a chance to look for that pocketbook during our off hours.” - -“I’m willing,” answered Fred. - -So were the others, and soon preparations were made for their departure. -Inside of an hour they were off. - -“Good-by to Snow Lodge!” cried Harry. “Perhaps we’ll never see this spot -again.” - -“We can build a new shelter,” said Joe. “It needn’t be so big, but I’m -sure we can make it just as comfortable.” - -And then they moved on, never dreaming of the surprises that were in -store for them. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - A GATHERING OF YOUNG HUNTERS. - - -Having the two sleds with them, they did not tramp through the woods, -but took to the lake, where the wind had swept the ice comparatively -free from snow. - -Despite what had happened, all were in a light-hearted humor, and Joe -began to whistle merrily, and soon Harry and Fred joined in. - -“Well, we can’t complain of lack of adventures,” remarked Harry, as they -trudged along, Joel Runnell in advance, looking for some signs of -possible game. - -“I should say not,” returned Fred. “We’re getting our full share and -more.” - -“Wonder if any of those other fellows are going to join us?” put in Joe. -“Bart Mason said he would be sure to come, and Link Darrow said the -same.” - -“Oh, lots of fellows think they can get away, but at the last minute -their parents say no, and that’s the end of it.” - -They were moving around a small arm of the island when they saw Joel -Runnell come to a halt. - -“Guess he has sighted game,” said Harry. “Wait; we don’t want to spoil a -shot.” - -“I’ll go up and see what’s doing,” said Joe, and hurried forward, with -his gun ready for use, should there be more game ahead than the old -hunter could handle. - -“Gun Club ahoy!” suddenly rang through the clear air. “Hullo, you -fellows? Where are you bound?” - -And then, around the bend, appeared the forms of three youths, dragging -a long, low sled behind them. The trio were dressed for hunting and each -carried a shotgun or a rifle. The sled was piled high with traps and -provisions. - -“Whoop! here are some of the other fellows now!” burst out Fred, and -rushed forward. “Hurrah!” he yelled. - -“Hurrah!” came back instantly. - -“Link Darrow, Bart Mason and—yes, it’s Teddy Dugan,” came from Harry. -“What can Teddy be doing with those other chaps?” he went on, for he had -not expected to see the Irish boy anywhere in that vicinity. - -“How are you making it?” asked Link Darrow, as he came closer. He was a -youth of Joe’s size and age. - -“First rate,” answered Joe. “When did you leave Lakeport?” - -“Yesterday. We expected to locate you a couple of hours ago, but Teddy -Dugan stopped us.” - -“Sure an’ I have news for you,” put in Teddy Dugan. “I’ve been up the -lake, a-visitin’ me Uncle Michael, and who do you think I saw?” - -“Those tramps,” cried Joe, quickly. “Oh, Teddy, did you really see -them?” - -“I saw three tramps, and by the look of ’em I think—yes, I’m sure—they -are the same that took your watch and chain. I knew you were over to -this island, so I told me uncle I’d come over and tell you.” - -“And you ran into Link and Bart?” - -“I did—but not until I had lost me way, and I reckon they had lost -theirs too. Ain’t that so, Bart?” - -“Well, I’ll admit we were a little off the trail,” answered Bart Mason, -who was very large for his years and correspondingly lazy. “But we -weren’t lost like the babes in the woods.” - -“I don’t see how a big fellow like you could get lost,” put in Fred, -slyly. His head hardly came up to Bart’s shoulder. - -“Tell me about those tramps,” said Joe, impatiently. “Where are they -now?” - -“The last I saw of them they were walkin’ on the lake.” - -“The lake!” came from Joe, Harry, and Fred simultaneously. - -“Yes. That’s why I came over to tell you.” - -“Do you think they came over to this island?” asked Harry. - -“Either that or they crossed to the other shore.” - -“Tell me exactly how they looked,” went on Joe. “We don’t want to make -any mistake.” - -Teddy Dugan had had a good look at all three of the tramps and he -described their features and dress in detail. - -“The very same rascals, beyond a doubt,” said Harry. “I wish you had had -them locked up, Teddy.” - -“Sure and I couldn’t do it when I was all alone, Harry. I watched them -walk to the lake and out on the ice—heading this way,—and then I ran -back to my uncle’s house and told him. But the snow was too deep to go -to town, an’ so me uncle did nothing.” - -After this Teddy Dugan told the particulars of the meeting between -himself and the three good-for-nothings. - -“I heard through me uncle that a house had been robbed near where he -lives,” added Teddy. “More than likely they were the thieves.” - -“I shouldn’t wonder,” said Fred. “A rascal who will take a watch and -chain will take more.” - -Link Darrow and Bart Mason had been bound for the lodge, thinking that -the camp of the club was located there. Both readily consented to turn -and move toward Needle Rock. - -“You must have had a fearful time with old Skeetles,” said Link, as the -whole party moved off. “Our family know him well, and my father doesn’t -want anything to do with him.” - -“What a pity Dan Marcy can’t act like other fellows do,” was Bart’s -comment. “He might be a real nice fellow if he wasn’t so overbearing.” - -“It’s in the breed,” came from Joel Runnell. “His father and his -grandfather were that way before him. Why, I can remember his -grandfather well. He was a boss on the railroad, and he hounded the -Italian workmen so much that one night several of them almost stoned him -to death.” - -“In that case, Dan is scarcely to blame for his disposition,” said -Harry. - -“I think he is. He ought to work to overcome it,” replied Fred. “But he -just makes himself as ugly as he can. Why, even the little boys and -girls get out of his way when they see him coming.” - -The three boys who had been on the island since the beginning of the -outing were anxious to hear all the news from home and this was told to -them by Bart and Link, who had also brought along several letters. - -“I don’t know what we can do about those tramps,” said Joe, after -thinking the matter over for some time. - -“Let us get settled down in our new place first,” returned Joel Runnell. -“After that we can go on a still hunt for them.” - -At this all of the boys looked at Teddy Dugan, who blushed through his -many freckles. - -“Teddy, what had you in mind to do?” questioned Joe. - -“I dunno,” was the slow answer. “I ain’t got nothing to do for the next -few days. Father said I could go and visit me uncle, or go huntin’, just -as I pleased. I know what I’d like to do.” - -“What’s that?” - -“Oh, I reckon I hadn’t better say. You’ve got your club all made up, -an’—an’——” - -“Would you like to stay with us?” asked Harry, quickly. There was -something in Teddy’s manner which was very attractive to him. - -“Yes, I would,” was the blunt response. “But, but——” - -“Let’s take Teddy along,” said Joe. - -“All right,” came from the others. - -“But I ain’t a member of the club?” - -“That don’t matter, Teddy. You’re a member of the ball team, and that’s -enough.” - -“Especially after that home run you made in the game with the Silver -Stars,” added Link, who was a great ball player himself. - -“Then you really want me along?” And the Irish lad’s face lit up in a -broad grin. - -“Yes,—but you have got to do your full share of camp work,” said Joe. - -“I’ll do more than my share.” Teddy did a few steps of a double shuffle -on the ice. “Say, this just suits me to death! Come on!” And he began to -pull on one of the sled ropes with great vigor. - -The breeze on the lake was so keen that nobody cared to stay out in it -longer than necessary. Where the snow was loose the wind often caught it -up and whirled it into their faces. - -“Only a little further to go,” said old Runnell at last, and in a few -minutes they turned in and came to a halt not far from where there was a -cliff twenty to twenty-five feet in height. Against the rocks rested two -immense pine trees which the gales of the previous winter had partly -uprooted. - -“Here is where we can fix up a real good shelter,” said old Runnell. “We -can trim off the under limbs of the trees and use them for the sides. -Then we can roll up some big snow balls and put ’em right on top of the -pine branches, leaving a hole for a doorway. Back in the cliff is a -split in the rocks, so it will do for a chimney.” - -“Then we can have a fire inside instead of outside,” said Harry. “That -will be jolly. I was afraid we’d have to put up with a cold sleeping -place.” - -“I’m cold now,” came from Link Darrow. “Guess I’ll have to do a dance to -get warm.” - -“You can get warm chopping some firewood,” said Joel Runnell. “Don’t -waste any of your strength. There is plenty of work to do before we can -settle down to enjoy ourselves.” - - - - - CHAPTER XX - BUILDING THE NEW SHELTER - - -The young hunters soon found out that what Joel Runnell said was true. -At first glance it looked easy enough to put the necessary shelter into -shape, but when it came to clearing and leveling the ground, cutting off -a great many tree branches and placing them as desired, and then -covering the whole with snow, the work was hard and long lasting, and it -was not until the evening of the second day that the task was completed. - -Yet all worked with a will, deeming it no labor at all, since they were -doing it for their own comfort and amusement. - -“Say, Fred, if you had to cut wood like this at home, what would you -think of it?” whispered Harry, while both were doing their best to trim -away an extra heavy limb of one of the pines. - -“I’d think it was ha—hard work,” panted Fred, who was almost out of -breath. - -“And wouldn’t you like to do it some Saturday afternoon, when there was -a football match on, or fine skating?” - -“My gracious! don’t mention it, Harry. It would make a fellow’s heart -drop to his shoes.” - -“No laying off there!” sang out Joe. “This gang has got to keep at work -until the job’s finished and I blow the whistle.” - -“Better ring the dinner bell,” put in Bart. “I’m almost hungry enough to -chew—oh!” - -Bart broke off with an exclamation, for just then a soft snowball hit -him directly in the back of the neck. He turned swiftly, to catch sight -of Fred working away, with an extra innocent look on his chubby face. - -“Oh, you needn’t play off on me!” he cried. “I know you did it, Fred.” - -“Did what?” asked Fred, continuing his work. “I’m cutting tree branches. -What are you doing?” - -“This,” continued Bart, and let drive with a snowball that took Fred on -the shoulder. - -“Hi! hi! stop that!” was the cry, and then Fred aimed another snowball. -But it flew past Bart and hit Link in the left ear. - -“Oh, my ear!” came with a roar, and Link began to dance around. “Fred -Rush, I’ll wash your face for that!” - -He made a drive for Fred, but the latter scrambled to the top of the -cliff, where Joe was at work. In another moment the young hunters were -having a lively snowball fight. By chance one ball hit Joel Runnell in -the stomach. - -“Hi! I’m not in this!” cried the old hunter. “Stop it, boys, stop it!” - -But nobody would listen to him. Fast and furious flew the snowballs in -all directions, and almost before he knew it Joel Runnell was hit again. -Then he joined in the sport. As he was at the top of the cliff and used -only huge chunks of loose snow those below had to steer clear of being -buried alive. - -“Want to snowball me, do ye!” he cried cheerily. “All right, come along! -But take care or the old man will go ye one better! Stand from under!” -And down came a chunk of snow as big as a feather bolster. It struck -Link’s head and hurled him flat on his back. But Link soon rallied and -hit old Runnell in the leg and in the back. - -Those at the bottom of the cliff soon sought to get at the top, while -those above did their best to keep the others down. It became a battle -of three on one side and four on the other. The excitement made Teddy -Dugan fairly wild and he let out whoops like an Indian, as he danced -around, delivering one snowball after another as if he was in a baseball -game. - -“Whoop! There’s one for first, and another for second!” he shrieked. -“There ye are, shortstop, and, I say, third base, don’t miss the liner!” -And bang! Joe caught the snowball in the waist, which doubled him up for -the moment. “Here’s fer killin’ the umpire!” And at this last speech old -Runnell caught a stinger in the ear. But the old hunter was quick to -retaliate, and Teddy went down with a chunk of snow completely covering -his head and neck. “Wurra!” he spluttered. “Please don’t throw the whole -cliff at me to onct!” - -The fight was growing hotter and hotter and in the excitement Joe -stepped close to the edge of the cliff. Then, of a sudden his feet -slipped, he made a clutch at the pine branches before him, and shot out -of sight. - -“Hurrah! the enemy is capitulating!” came from below. - -“Joe! Joe! where are you?” cried Harry. - -“I’ve retired, thank you!” came from under the pines. “I say, let us -call it off!” And then the snowballing came to an end. Joe was not hurt, -nor had anybody else suffered during the exciting contest. - -The boys worked so hard the first day building the shelter that in the -morning every back was stiff. When Harry arose it was all he could do to -straighten up. - -“I’ll be glad when the job is finished,” he grumbled. “A little of that -sort of thing goes a great way.” - -“Think of how our forefathers used to build their log cabins,” said -Bart. “We can be thankful we don’t live in such days.” - -“And don’t have any Indians hanging around ready to scalp us,” put in -Fred. - -“Sure, an’ I’d run for me life if I seen an Indian,” said Teddy, and -this caused a laugh. - -Bart and Link had brought a fair supply of provisions with them, but -Teddy had brought nothing, so it was felt by all in the camp that they -must be sparing with their things. - -“We’ll have to go out on another hunt to-morrow,” said old Runnell. “We -don’t want to live on just deer and bear meat.” - -The split in the rock had been cleaned out, and on the evening of the -second day a fire was started in the rear of the new shelter. There was -a fine draught and every bit of the smoke went up the split without any -trouble. - -“This looks more like home,” said Harry, after the fire had begun to -warm them up. “A camp isn’t a camp at all unless one has a good fire. -Even in the summer time a fellow likes to look at the blaze.” - -“Right you are, lad,” answered old Runnell. “I’ve been out many a time -all alone, and I always found a fire the most friendly thing I could -think of to drive away the blues. Even in the hottest of weather I start -up some kind of a little blaze between the rocks.” - -While the others were sitting close to the fire, Harry drew Link aside. - -“Did you hear what Teddy said about Indians,” he whispered. - -“Of course I did,” answered Link. He gave a knowing wink. “I guess I -know what you are up to.” - -“Give him a scare?” - -“Exactly, Harry. But how can we do it? We haven’t any Indian costumes.” - -“Haven’t we though? That’s all you know about it. Haven’t we blankets, -and plenty of birds’ feathers, and some turkey feathers, too, come to -think of it. And we can rub a little red dirt on our cheeks.” - -“Good! That’s worth remembering. But we can’t do it right away.” - -“Not to-night. I’m too tired.” - -“What are you fellows whispering about?” demanded Joe. - -“I just said I was tired,” answered Link, innocently. “I’m going to turn -in.” - -“I’ll wager you are up to some mischief.” - -“Say, if anybody plays a trick on me to-night I’ll—I’ll shoot him,” came -from Fred. - -“No tricks to-night, boys,” said old Runnell. “Everybody needs a good -sleep after such work as we’ve had.” - -On each side of the shelter inside fresh pine boughs had been spread. -The heat made the boughs give forth a delicious odor, which was as -healthy as it was pleasing. So far none of the lads had taken cold and -old Runnell sincerely hoped that all would continue to remain well. - -“Teddy, you want to keep one ear open for bears,” said Link, just before -retiring. - -“I don’t want to see any bears to-night.” - -“But one may come in, you know, and try to sample your foot or your -hand.” - -“Do you think any bears will be around?” questioned the Irish lad in -quick alarm. - -“Oh, not more than six or seven, Teddy.” - -“Then I’ll not go to sleep at all, at all!” - -“Teddy, don’t let them fool you,” remonstrated Joel Runnell. “If a bear -comes I’ll take care of him.” - -“I met a bear once,” said Teddy, after a pause. “I was that close to -him,” and he measured off a distance of but a few feet. - -“Oh, Teddy, what did you do?” questioned Bart. - -“I’ll wager you was scared half to death,” came from one of the others. - -“Did he try to bite you, or hug you to death?” questioned still another. - -“Were you armed?” - -“Where was this, out around here?” - -“No, it wasn’t. It was over to Dackerville.” - -“Dackerville?” - -“That’s what I said. I can tell you that bear was a lively one. Me -father was along, but he wasn’t as close to that bear as I was.” - -“Well, what did you do to him?” asked Link, impatiently. - -“Do? Didn’t do nuthin’.” - -“You didn’t! What did the bear do?” - -“Rolled over on his head, and walked off.” - -“Teddy, are you going crazy? A bear wouldn’t do that.” - -“He did, I tell you.” - -“He couldn’t have been very savage.” - -“I don’t know about that. He had a leather muzzle on, and a chain around -his neck.” - -“A tame bear!” screamed Harry, and began to laugh. “Oh, that’s the best -yet. Link, I guess you are sold.” - -“Was it a tame bear?” asked Link, weakly. - -“Sure. He could dance, and roll over on his head, and do lots of -stunts,” went on Teddy, and now a broad grin crept over his freckled -face. - -“Teddy, you’re the worst I ever met,” groaned Link, and then after the -laughter had subsided he added: “I’ll get square for that. Just you wait -and see!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXI - THE FIGHT OF THE PINE MARTENS - - -“Now, boys,” said Joel Runnell on the following morning, after all of -the young hunters had enjoyed a good night’s rest, “I’m going to get you -at something new.” - -“What is it?” queried several, in chorus. - -“So far all the game we have had has either been caught by a hook and -line or brought down with a gun. Now I’m going to show you how to set -traps for rabbits and other small animals, and also how to spear some -big fish through a hole in the ice.” - -“That’s the talk!” cried Joe. “I’ve been wanting to know something about -traps for years.” - -“Well, a small trap isn’t much of a thing to make,” answered the old -hunter. - -“I know how to make one kind of a rabbit trap,” came from Bart. “My -uncle showed me how to make it.” - -“There are a good many kinds of traps, aren’t there?” asked Fred. - -At this Joel Runnell smiled. - -“I should say so, my boy. I can make at least a dozen kinds, and I once -knew a hunter from Canada who boasted of being able to make forty-six -different kinds of traps and death-falls.” - -“Gracious! that man hadn’t much use for a gun,” was Harry’s comment. - -“It’s a good thing to know something about traps,” went on the old -hunter. “There might come a time when you were out in the woods and -mighty hungry, without a single charge of powder left. In such a case a -trap may keep you from starving to death.” - -The old hunter told them that he would first set a few rabbit and -squirrel traps, and after that a death-fall for larger animals. - -“I think I can locate the run of the rabbits on this island pretty -well,” said he. - -A good hot breakfast was had, and as soon as it was over Teddy insisted -on washing up the few dishes which had been used. Then off they set in a -crowd, satisfied that nobody would come to disturb their new shelter -during an absence of only an hour or two. - -Joel Runnell led the way around the cliff and then into a thicket where -the pine trees fairly touched the ground. - -“Here are hundreds of traps fairly waiting for us,” he said. - -“I don’t see any,” said Teddy, gazing around vacantly. - -“You’ll see one in a few minutes.” - -Finding a spot that suited him, Joel Runnell cleared away some of the -snow, which was but a few inches deep. Then, with a hatchet he had -brought along, he cut two short sticks and near the top of each cut a -sharp notch, the opening pointing downward. - -“Now I’ll drive these two sticks into the ground, about eight inches -apart,” said he; and put them down until the notches he had cut were -less than a foot from the soil. “Joe,” he added, “you cut a strong, flat -stick that will reach from one notch to the other.” - -While Joe was doing this, old Runnell put down another stick, this time -with a sharp upper point. The three sticks in the ground formed a -triangle. Then a stick was cut, sharp at one end and blunt at the other. -This the old hunter called the catch stick. - -Several feet away was a sapling and this was readily bent down in the -direction of the imperfect trap. To the sapling Joel Runnell tied a -stout cord and to the lower end of the cord fastened a bit of wire in -the form of a running loop. - -“Now we’ll proceed to set our trap,” he said, and taking the catch stick -he placed the blunt end under the stick Joe had put in the two notches -and balanced the sharp end on the equally sharp end of the stick in -front. - -The sapling was now bent over until the loop, or noose, was low to the -ground, between the two sticks in the ground and that in the notches. -Then the string, just above the noose, was fastened to the blunt end of -the catch stick. - -“Now all we’ve got to do is to bait our trap and it will be ready for -business,” went on Joel Runnell, and around the sharp stick in the -ground fastened some extra tender twigs of brushwood he had found on the -way. “You see, the minute Mr. Rabbit begins to eat the twigs, he’ll -shake the stick. That will make the catch stick slip down at the sharp -end. Up will fly the blunt end and so will the noose, with Mr. Rabbit -dangling in it by the neck or by the body.” - -“But he may go at the bait from the back,” said Bart. - -“The trap is done, but we’ve got to persuade Mr. Rabbit to go at the -bait from the front,” said the old hunter, and banked up the snow and -dead brushwood around the three sides, leaving only the spot by the loop -clear. - -When the trap was completed they walked off and at a distance set -another. By this time all the young hunters were at it, and in less than -two hours nine traps, large and small, had been set and baited in -various ways. - -“If we wanted to, we could make some box traps for birds,” said old -Runnell. “But I guess you won’t care for them this trip. It’s better to -catch birds in the summer.” - -“I’d rather not catch them at all,” said Fred. “They are not much good -for food—that is, they don’t go aground like rabbits, or turkeys, or a -deer. I don’t believe in killing them just for the fun of it.” - -“What is a death-fall?” questioned Link. - -“A death-fall is simply a heavy trap, for killing big game,” answered -the old hunter. “Some are made simply of a heavy log, so placed that -when the bait is disturbed the log comes down and crushes the beast. -Others are made with a tough stick and a big rock.” - -“Some hunters dig pitfalls for bears, don’t they?” asked one of the -boys. - -“Yes, but it’s not likely we’ll catch a bear in any such hole—they are -too scarce around here. Besides, pitfalls are dangerous. Some years ago -a hunter I knew fairly well fell into a pitfall dug the season before by -some other hunters, and he broke his leg and two ribs.” - -“It was mean to leave the pitfall unmarked,” said Joe. - -“When you are in the woods there are several things worth remembering, -lads. One is, never leave a fire without you’re certain it won’t do -damage.” - -“Yes, we’ve learned what fire can do,” said Fred, grimly. - -“Another thing is, don’t fool with your firearms, and don’t point a gun -at the other fellow just because you think the gun isn’t loaded. And -another thing, never point your gun at yourself or at anybody else when -you are climbing a fence, or crawling through the brushwood. The hammer -may catch on something and somebody may be killed.” - -“Yes, I knew of a boy who was killed that way,” said Harry. “He was -climbing a rail fence and the charge nearly took the top of his head -off.” - -“And finally,” said Joel Runnell, “when you leave a camp, don’t break up -everything in sight just for the sport of it, thinking you’ll never come -back that way again. You may want to come back the very next season, or, -if you don’t, somebody else may happen that way and it will be a -pleasure for that party to find things in shape for use, just as we -found Snow Lodge ready for use.” - -By the time the young hunters had returned to the shelter the wind was -rising once more, and they were glad enough to sit around the fire and -get warm. While they ate their midday meal Joel Runnel explained many -traps and their workings to the boys, and told of what animals he had -caught from time to time by such means. - -They were just preparing to go out for the afternoon when Link, who was -at the doorway, called softly to his companions. - -“Don’t make any noise,” he said. “I think there is some kind of an -animal around.” - -“Is it a bear?” queried Bart. - -“I don’t know what it is.” - -“Where did you hear it, Link?” asked Joe. - -“Down near the lake. It made a very odd sound.” - -By this time all had reached for their guns and were coming forth from -the shelter. - -“Come with me, Link,” said old Runnell. “You others hang back a little. -We’ll find out what it is that is prowling around. I don’t believe it’s -a bear.” - -With extreme caution Joel Runnell led the way in the direction Link had -pointed out. The snow covered the rough rocks so that walking was -extremely difficult. - -Just as they were to pass from under some pine trees into the open there -came a cat-like cry from a tree to their right. Wheeling around, the old -hunter caught sight of two animals facing each other on a sloping tree -limb. Each animal was rather larger than a good sized house cat and had -a long, bushy tail and short, stout legs. - -“What are they, cats?” whispered Link. - -“No, pine martens,” returned the old hunter, in a low voice. “Get back -and perhaps we’ll see some fun.” - -He caught Link by the arm, and both drew back a few paces. Then the -others were motioned to keep silent. - -The two pine martens soon began to growl and spit at each other exactly -as do two house cats when on a back fence to settle a long-standing -dispute. They were so much in earnest that neither noted the approach of -the hunters, although usually a pine marten is very shy and quick to -detect danger. - -“What a battle!” remarked Joe, when each had made a savage claw at the -other. “You’d almost think they were two old Toms, wouldn’t you?” - -“Perhaps you’d better heave a boot-jack at them,” came dryly from Bart. - -“Hush, lads,” put in Joel Runnell. “Be prepared to fire the minute they -try to run away. Remember, they may disappear like magic.” - -“Let me shoot one,” pleaded Link. “I haven’t had any chance at game -yet.” - -“And let me try for the other,” came from Bart. - -“All right. But take careful aim, or the martens will get away from -you.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXII - TEDDY MEETS “THE INDIANS” - - -In order to get a better view of the pine martens, who had shifted -slightly from where they were first fighting, Link and Bart moved -cautiously along among several big pine trees. - -“I’ll take the lighter one,” said Bart. - -“All right, I’ll try for the darker,” said his chum. Both of the martens -were brown, but there were several shades of difference between the -pair. - -“Are you ready?” came a few seconds later. - -“Yes.” - -“Then fire!” - -Crack! crack! went the two guns in rapid succession and up into the air -leaped both of the animals. Then they came down into the snow and -whirled over and over. One was mortally wounded and quickly expired, but -the one shot by Bart, tried to crawl away. - -“He’s going to get away from ye!” cried Teddy Dugan, in strong -excitement. “Let me give him a shot, won’t ye?” - -“Yes,” answered Bart, and no sooner had he spoken than the Irish boy -blazed away, and over on its back went the pine marten, as dead as a -stone. - -All of the young hunters rushed up to inspect the prizes. They found the -pine martens of a strong odor, but with beautiful furs. - -“Those pelts are worth something,” said Joel Runnell. - -“Can we eat the meat?” asked Bart. - -“I don’t think you’ll care particularly for the flavor. But you want to -save the furs.” - -“We shall certainly do that,” said Link, and then old Runnell showed -them how to skin the game so that the fur would not be damaged. - -Now that they were out with their guns they continued the hunt until -sunset. During that time they were lucky enough to get three rabbits and -two squirrels and also some more nuts out of the hole of one of the -latter creatures. - -It was growing colder steadily and by sunset all of the young hunters -were more than glad to get back to the shelter. - -“Oh, but this night is going to be a stinger!” predicted Joe, and he was -right. They brought in a large quantity of firewood and set the blaze to -going as hard as they dared. The pine trees leaning against the cliff -were getting dry and they had to be careful that no sparks should set -them ablaze. - -“We’ve burnt down one shelter, we don’t want to burn down another,” said -old Runnell, and Joe, Harry and Fred agreed with him. - -By midnight it was so cold that several of the boys could not sleep. -Wrapped up in their blankets they huddled so close to the fire that one -of them, Bart, had one corner of his wrap badly singed. - -“Look out, you’re on fire!” came from Joe, in a warning, and Bart leaped -up and did a war dance in an effort to brush away the sparks which had -reached him. - -Some water had been brought into the shelter for drinking purposes, but -long before morning this was frozen into a solid chunk, which Teddy -Dugan surveyed with a comical look on his face. - -“Sure an’ nobody will be after drinkin’ that,” he said. “If you want -water you’ll have to chew it!” - -“This is the banner cold snap so far,” observed Harry. “I trust the -thermometer doesn’t go much lower.” - -“If it does the bottom will drop out sure,” added Link, with a grin. - -“I don’t feel much like stirring from the fire,” came from Fred. - -“See Fred, doubled up like a squaw,” cried Bart. “Fred, are you toasted -yet?” - -“Never mind, I noticed you grumbled as much as I did, during the night,” -returned the stout youth. - -“Did I?” - -“Did you? Well, I just guess. You wanted all the extra blankets, you -did.” - -“Never mind, boys,” said Joel Runnell. “We’ll have a good hot breakfast, -and that will warm us all up.” - -Pancake flour had been brought along by Link and Bart, and that morning -they had coffee, pancakes, and fried rabbit. They did full justice to -the meal, and as old Runnell had said, all felt warm and in better humor -after the repast was finished. - -It remained cold all day, and the boys spent the time around the -shelter, cutting more firewood, and fixing the place up so that the wind -could not get in quite so freely. Link started another snowball fight, -but it did not last. - -Yet Link was out for some fun, and at supper time he reminded Harry of -the trick to be played on Teddy. - -“I’m willing,” came from Harry, readily. “But I think we ought to let -the others know, so they can enjoy the fun.” - -“I shouldn’t tell Runnell. He might want to stop us.” - -So it was agreed to tell the other boys. All were much interested and -did what they could to make Harry and Link look like Indians. - -First some reddish dirt was dug up and thawed out, after which it was -mixed with a little rabbit grease and smeared on their faces. Then some -feathers were put in bands and stuck around their heads, and each -wrapped himself in a camp blanket, in true Indian style. - -“You’ve got to have weapons,” said Joe. “Here, each take a hatchet.” - -“I brought along a bow and some arrows,” said Bart. “Link can take -that.” - -“And I’ll take my gun,” put in Harry. - -“See that it is empty first,” said Joe, warningly. “We don’t want any -accident.” And the weapon was discharged on the spot. - -All these preparations were made in secret, while old Runnell was out -looking for game. The boys had persuaded Teddy to go out, too. - -When Joel Runnell and the Irish lad returned to camp Link and Harry were -missing. - -“They went up the north shore,” said Joe. “Teddy, they wanted to know if -you wouldn’t follow them up. I think they have something they want you -to help carry home.” - -“All right,” answered the Irish lad, willingly, and set off at once, -whistling merrily as he trudged along. - -As luck would have it, Joel Runnell was busy skinning some rabbits found -in the traps. Consequently he did not notice the actions of the boys and -inside of a minute after Teddy left the camp they were following him up. - -“Don’t let him see you,” whispered Joe to the others. “If he does the -game will be spoilt.” - -“You keep out of sight yourself,” returned Bart. - -“And don’t talk so loud,” came from Fred. “Remember, it’s so quiet just -now a fellow’s voice carries further than you imagine.” - -After that they remained silent and took good care that Teddy should not -see them. - -All unconscious of the trick about to be played upon him, the Irish lad -trudged on and on, until he was quarter of a mile from camp. - -“Hello, boys!” he called out. “Where are you?” - -No answer came back, and he continued to move on, until a sudden stir in -some bushes caused him to halt. It was after sunset and the woods -appeared dim and ghostly. - -“I say, where are you?” he went on. “Link! Harry!” - -Again there was no answer, but now he saw two forms moving silently from -the bushes to a spot behind him. - -Joe had seen to it that Teddy did not take his gun along, so the Irish -lad was totally unarmed. He watched the figures in considerable alarm. - -“Sure an’ they can’t be the boys,” he told himself. “Link! Harry!” - -Slowly the figures drew closer and as they did so Teddy’s hair almost -stood on end. - -“Indians!” he cried. “Indians! Oh, I’m a dead b’y now!” - -“Pa-wa! Pa-wa!” cried one of the advancing figures. “Bunk-a-bunk a -busta-bust! Pa-wa!” - -“Nunk-a-nuck!” came from the other. “White boy Injun prisoner!” - -“Mercy on me!” shrieked poor Teddy. “Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me, Mr. -Indian!” - -“White boy big chief’s prisoner,” came from the second figure. “Maybe -scalp white boy!” - -At this Teddy clasped his hands in terror. - -“Don’t ye do it!” he yelled. “Help! somebody, help! The Indians have -come to murder us all in our beds! Don’t touch my hair! I nade it, I -do!” - -He wanted to run, but one of the wrapped-up figures caught him by the -arm, while the other raised his hatchet threateningly. - -“White boy be silent!” was the command. “No speak a word.” - -“Fer the sake o’ me family!” groaned Teddy. “Please let me go!” - -“White boy good to eat maybe?” - -“To eat is it! Oh, my! just to hear o’ that now! No, I’m no good to eat! -I’m tough, terribul tough! If ye try to eat me ye’ll break yer teeth!” - -At this came a snicker from behind the trees. - -“Say, but he’s scared right enough,” murmured Bart. - -“Down on your knees—your Japanese,” went on Harry, giving his hatchet a -wild flourish. - -“Oh! oh! Don’t sca—scalp me!” groaned Teddy, and fell on his knees. - -“Injuns let white boy go on one condition,” said Link, who had a wild -desire to burst out laughing. - -“What is that?” was the eager question. - -“White boy stand on head and sing big song.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII - PIKE SPEARING THROUGH THE ICE - - -“Well, did you ever hear the beat of that?” asked Fred, in a whisper, -after Link had made his outrageous request. - -“Hush, we may miss something,” came from Joe. - -“Stand on me head, is it?” asked Teddy, thinking he had not heard -aright. - -“Yes. Sing big song.” - -“What shall I sing?” - -“Sing, De Wacht am Rhine.” - -“Eh? I can’t sing a Dutch song.” - -“Did you hear that?” came with a suppressed laugh from Joe. “De Wacht am -Rhine of all things for Teddy!” - -“No sing Dutch song, sing Chinese song—Chow Chow Chippy Chow!” went on -Link. - -“Sure an’ I can’t sing Chinese ayther!” said poor Teddy. “I’ll sing The -Wearin’ o’ the Green, if ye want me to.” - -“White boy sing French song—La Loopa de Loopa,” came from Link. - -“Sing Russian song—Tvitsky Smoultskyitvalitz,” put in Harry. At this -there came a distinct snicker from behind the nearby trees. - -“What a name for a song!” murmured Fred. “His teeth will fall out if he -don’t take care!” - -“Don’t know Frinch, or Russian,” said Teddy. - -“Too bad, big Injun weep much tears,” sighed Link. “White boy sing Mary -Has a Little Ox?” - -“Eh? Do you mean, Mary Has a Little Lamb?” queried Teddy, in perplexity. - -“No. Injun no like lambs—bad for Injun complexion. White boy sing What -is Home Without Um Alarm Clock. Sing nine verses and can go home.” - -“Sure an’ I niver heard o’ the song,” said Teddy. “Tell ye what I’ll -sing,” he added, brightening. “I’ll sing ye a song me father made up.” - -“Good!” shouted both “Indians.” “But must stand on head,” added one. - -“Oh, dear,” groaned Teddy. “I never sang standin’ on me head before. Are -ye sure you’ll let me go if I do it?” - -“Yes, white boy run to bosom of family.” - -With a great effort Teddy managed to stand on his head, balancing -himself on his hands, a feat he had learned after visiting a circus -which had once stopped at Lakeport. Then with even a greater effort he -began to sing: - - “Me father had an old blind mule, - An’ he was very frisky, - To git upon that muley’s back - He said was very risky. - The mule was swift upon his feet, - Could run a mile a minit! - He beat the hosses at the track— - Not wan of thim was in it!” - -“Fine song! Make Injun heap laugh!” cried Link and began to dance around -as if greatly pleased. - -“White boy sing more such song,” put in Harry. “Injun learn ’em.” And -almost out of breath poor Teddy went on, wobbling from side to side as -he did so: - - “Me father’s mule he loved to eat - Green grass and ripe pertaters, - But niver cared a single cent - To swallow ripe termaters! - Wan day that mule stood on his head, - A-facin’ two big Injuns, - The Injuns roared to see him there— - -“But he got up and walked away, fer he saw it was all a joke an’ he -wasn’t goin’ to stand fer such nonsense any longer,” concluded Teddy, -and arising to his feet, he squinted comically first at Link and then -Harry. “Yer fine lads to play such a trick on me,” he added. “Supposin’ -I’d had me gun an’ shot off both yer heads?” - -The end of this speech was lost in a burst of laughter from behind the -trees, and Joe, Bart and Fred ran into view. - -“Hullo, Teddy, how do you like Injuns?” queried Fred. - -“Teddy, your voice is fine when you stand on your head and sing,” came -from Bart. - -“Oh, stop yer foolin’,” said the Irish boy, calming down. “Sure, didn’t -I know it was a joke all along.” - -“Oh, Teddy, did you know it?” asked Harry. - -“To be sure I did.” - -“I don’t believe it.” - -“All right then,” and the Irish lad tossed his head into the air. “I -wasn’t goin’ to spoil——” - -“Teddy, you’re drawing on your imagination,” burst in Link. “But we’ll -let it pass.” - -“Wait till I’m after gettin’ square,” said Teddy, and put up one finger -warningly. - -“Never mind, the song was O. K.,” said Fred. “Did your father really -make it up?” - -“And what’s the end of the second verse?” queried Link. - -“No, me father had nothin’ to do wid it. I got it out of an old joke -book, an’ I’ve forgotten the end of it. That’s the reason I made up an -endin’.” - -“Three cheers for Teddy, the acrobatic songster,” cried Fred, and the -cheers were given with a will. The cheers put the Irish lad in a better -humor; but it was a long time before he forgot how they had played -Indian on him. - -“What’s all the cheering about?” asked Joel Runnell, as they came back -to camp, Link and Harry having first wiped the red mud off their faces -and hidden away the feathers and blankets. - -“We’ve been initiating Teddy into a secret society,” said Link. - -“Didn’t know you had a secret society.” - -“This is the Forest Wanderers,” put in Harry. “Teddy is now Head Chief -of the Royal Frying Pan.” - -“You’ve been cutting up high jinks,” said old Runnell, with a smile. -“Well, it’s all right, but don’t none o’ you git hurt, that’s all,” and -there the affair ended. - -Joe and Harry had not forgotten about the three tramps, and were anxious -to make a hunt for the rascals, but the next morning Joel Runnell asked -all hands to go down to the lake front with him and help erect a shelter -on the ice, from which they might spear some pike and other fish. - -“It’s too cold to stay out there without a shelter,” said he, and -directly after breakfast they set to work. - -The fishing-wigwam, as the boys named it, was a primitive affair, built -up of long tree branches, set in a circle of snow. The branches were -fastened together at the top, like the poles of an Indian wigwam, and -then snow was packed around on the outside to a point just above their -heads. - -“Now this will make a comfortable place to fish in,” said Joel Runnell, -and with a sharp axe began to chop a hole in the ice about a foot and a -half square. “Of course this hole will freeze over from time to time, -but once we are through the main ice it will be an easy matter to cut -away whatever forms later.” - -The tree branches made the fishing shelter rather dark inside. On this -account they could look down into the water with ease, for the latter -was lit up by the light on the outside of the shelter. - -“This is great!” cried Joe. “Why the water is almost as bright as day!” - -At last the hole was cut and finished off to old Runnell’s satisfaction. -In the meantime the boys had prepared a fishing bait which the old -hunter approved. The bait was nothing but a little imitation fish, made -of wood and a bit of tinfoil. - -“Now, wait till I have my spear ready,” said Joel Runnell, and brought -out the weapon mentioned, which was fairly long and with a razor-like -point. - -In a few minutes he was ready for the test, and he showed Joe how to -drop the bait into the hole and jerk it around in the water below. - -For quite a while Joe jerked the imitation fish around in vain. Once a -lazy looking fish came fairly close, but not close enough for old -Runnell to use the spear. - -“Perhaps we had better try a line and hook,” said Harry. - -“Be patient,” said the old hunter. “You’ll never have any success at -fishing if you are not patient. You must—ah, I guess we’ll get something -now.” - -Joel Runnell bent directly over the hole. A good-sized pike had shown -himself. He darted off, but soon reappeared. Then, as Joe gave the bait -another jerk, the pike came directly under the hole and sniffed at it. - -It was a splendid chance and old Runnell was not slow to take advantage -of it. His spear was up, and down it came with force and directness, -taking the pike directly through the back. There was a twist and a short -struggle, and in a twinkling the pike lay on the floor of the fishing -shelter, breathing its last. - -“Oh, but that’s a prize!” cried Bart, enthusiastically. “He must weigh -three pounds!” - -“You’d have a fine time bringing him in on a line,” was Joe’s comment. -“He’d tire you out sure, or maybe break the line on the edge of the -ice.” - -All inspected the pike with great interest, and then Joel Runnell passed -the catch over to Teddy to be cleaned. - -“Can we get another one, do you think?” asked Bart, who was anxious to -try his luck. - -“Perhaps, although a big pike like this usually keeps his territory to -himself. More than likely his home was under yonder overhanging tree.” - -This time Bart took the spear and Link the bait, and nearly half an hour -went by. But then a pike larger than the first appeared. - -“Oh, my, what a chance!” murmured Link. “Now, Bart, don’t miss him!” - -“I’ll do my best,” answered Bart, who was quivering with excitement. - -All of the others were interested and drew around the hole hardly daring -to breathe. Three times the pike came fairly close and then swam away. -Once he passed directly across the opening, but so swiftly that Bart did -not take the chance to hit him. - -“He has gone,” said Fred, after a few minutes more had passed, but just -as he spoke the pike reappeared and came up directly under the hole, -where he began to turn around. - -“Now!” cried old Runnell, and down went the spear, in something of a -sideway fashion. But it passed through the pike near the tail, and with -a whirl and a great splashing, he came up to the surface and out of the -hole. - -“Hurrah, you’ve got him!” cried Link, as he wiped the cold water from -his face. “Say, he gave me a regular shower bath, didn’t he?” - -“Oh, you mustn’t mind that,” put in Fred. “Why such a pike as that is -worth a dip into the lake.” - -“Not in this freezing weather,” came from Joe. “But he’s a beauty and no -mistake. Four inches longer than the other and at least half a pound -heavier.” - -“There are a great many kinds of pike, aren’t there?” asked Link. - -“Yes, a great number,” answered old Runnell. “The big muskalonge, the -pike-perch, the pickerel, the wall-eye or glass-eye pike, and the gray -pike, and half a dozen other varieties. The pike-perch of the Great -Lakes sometimes grows to three feet and weighs fifteen or eighteen -pounds.” - -The fishing was continued for over two hours longer and one more small -pike was obtained. Then Fred tried his hook and line and very soon -brought in several small fish. - -“Now, we’ll have fish to last us for awhile,” said Joel Runnell. “What -we don’t use at once we can let freeze in the ice.” And this was done by -simply throwing the fish in a hollow and pouring clean water over them. - -The party had used up a good share of their deer meat, but the best part -of one of the halves still remained—or rather, had been left at the camp -when they went fishing. But now, when they got back, strange to say, the -deer meat was gone. - -“Hullo, what does this mean?” cried Joe. “Have we had another visit from -Dan Marcy and old Skeetles?” - -“Somebody has taken the meat, that is certain,” put in Bart. - -Joel made a careful examination. The meat had been left hanging on one -of the pine trees. - -“An animal took that meat,” said the old hunter. “And I am pretty -certain I know what kind of a beast it was.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV - A BATTLE WITH A WOLVERENE - - -All of the young hunters listened to Joel Runnell’s words with deep -interest. - -“An animal took the meat?” questioned Joe. “What sort of an animal?” - -“Unless I am greatly mistaken, lad, it was a wolverene.” - -“A wolverene!” cried several in chorus. - -“Oh, do you think it was really a wolverene?” came from Link. “Why, they -are very fierce, aren’t they?” - -“About as fierce a beast as you can bring down in these parts, Link, and -just about as hard to track, too.” - -“I’ve never seen a live wolverene,” came from Harry. “I saw a dead one -once at my father’s store—Jerry Daley brought it down. It was about as -long as a wolf, but a good deal heavier, and was black, with a lightish -streak running around each side toward the tail. It had a sort of cat -head, with the ears laid low, and an awful savage looking mouth.” - -“Yes, and Jerry Daley was almost killed by the beast, too,” put in Joe. -“It ripped up his arm and gave him a fearful scratch on one knee. Jerry -put two bullets into it and then cut its throat with his hunting knife.” - -“I’ve heard a lot of stories about wolverenes,” said Fred. “A good many -hunters fight shy of them.” - -“And the wolverenes fight shy of the hunters,” put in old Runnell. -“Can’t blame ’em either.” - -“Maybe we had better not go after this beast,” put in Teddy. “I don’t -want to be chewed up.” - -“Oh, yes, let us go after him,” came from Bart. “I’m not afraid. -Remember, he stole our deer meat.” - -“Better let that meat go,” went on Teddy. - -“Oh, I don’t want to eat the meat after a wolverene has chewed on it,” -added Bart. “But we ought to teach the beast a lesson.” - -“Wolverenes are great for stealing hunters’ meat,” said Joel Runnell. -“And not only that, they soon learn how to get at rabbits and other -animals that have been trapped. I once heard tell of how a hunter went -out to look at his traps and he discovered a wolverene watching ’em. He -kept out of sight, and pretty soon a rabbit got into one of the traps. -As soon as the rabbit was a prisoner, Mr. Wolverene came out of hiding -and pulled the rabbit out of the trap, and just then the hunter killed -the beast.” - -The matter was talked over, and it was decided that two of the boys -should go with old Runnell after the wolverene. Lots were cast, and the -choice fell upon Joe and Bart. - -“Bart, that ought to suit you,” said Fred. - -“And it does,” was the quick answer. - -“It suits me, too,” came from Joe. “Sorry you can’t go, Harry,” he added -to his brother. - -“Well, such is luck,” was the reply. “Perhaps next time I’ll go and -you’ll have to stay home.” - -A hasty lunch was had, and in less than half an hour old Runnell, Bart, -and Joe were on the way. - -The track of the wolverene was plainly to be seen, and they followed it -with ease over the rocks where the wind had blown a good deal of the -snow away. - -“Are your guns ready for use?” questioned old Runnell. “It may be that -we may fall in with some other kind of game besides the wolverene.” - -The weapons were in proper condition and both were held in such a -fashion that they could do no harm as the party traveled along. They had -now to enter the woods, with thick pines on one side and a variety of -small hemlocks and scrub bushes on the other. They were going uphill, -and walking at every step became more difficult. - -“Here are the marks very plainly,” said Joe. “The wolverene got tired of -carrying the meat and dragged it.” - -“Make no more noise,” said Joel Runnell. “We may be closer to the beast -nor you think.” - -After that they proceeded in utter silence. The trail led around a -number of pointed rocks and then among the pines. - -Suddenly Joel Runnell came to a halt and motioned for the others to do -likewise. Looking ahead, Joe and Bart saw a spot where the snow was much -disturbed, and there lay the best part of the deer meat which had been -stolen. - -Crouching low, Joel Runnell began to look in among the pine trees, for -he felt certain that the beast he was after could not be far away. -Evidently the wolverene had been disturbed while devouring a portion of -the game and had leaped out of sight among the pine branches. - -The wolverene is well called the glutton, for it loves to gorge itself -upon any meat which it can obtain. When it has such meat in its -possession to give it up is almost out of the question, and it becomes -maddened to the last degree. - -All this Joel Runnell knew, and he also knew that if he advanced to -where the meat was lying more than likely the wolverene would leap upon -him. - -But it was not the old hunter who first caught sight of the beast. -Happening to glance over his shoulder Bart saw a sight which filled him -with sudden terror. The wolverene was there, in a high branch, ready to -leap down upon his head! - -“Oh!” yelled the boy, and then, more by instinct than reason, he swung -his gun around and fired. The firearm held a fair charge of shot, and -this took the wolverene partly in the breast and left foreleg. There was -a fierce snarl, and down came the powerful creature at Bart’s very feet. - -As the wolverene landed both Joe and old Runnell wheeled around. The -latter would have fired, but Joe was in his way. - -“Look out, boys!” yelled the old hunter. “Back for your lives!” - -He spoke none too soon, for the wolverene was now ready for a second -leap. Bart sprang back, and the beast caught sight of Joe, who was -trying to get a shot. - -Bang! went Joe’s weapon, but the wolverene leaped as he fired, and all -that was hit of the creature was the bushy tail, which was knocked -completely to pieces at such close range. - -Dazed and bewildered, the wolverene now backed to the nearest tree, and -leaped out of sight among the low-hanging branches. The pain of its -wounds made it snarl and growl viciously, and had it been able to reach -one or another of the hunters it might have done great damage. - -“Look out,” cried Bart. “Guess he’s trying to come up behind us.” - -“I’ve got my eye on him now,” answered Joel Runnell. “Both of you stay -where you are, and reload.” - -Neither had thought of reloading, but now they did so with all possible -speed. In the meanwhile Joel Runnell was moving down among the pines. -They listened and heard the wolverene make a leap from one branch to -another, then all became suddenly silent. - -“Oh, I hope Runnell don’t get hurt,” muttered Bart. - -There followed a short spell of silence, and then the firearm of the old -hunter rang out. The report was followed by a cat-like screech, loud and -of short duration. Then from one limb to another tumbled the wolverene, -striking the ground with a whirl and sending the snow flying in all -directions. But the shot was a fatal one, and in a few minutes the -savage beast gave a shudder, stiffened out, and lay still. - -“Is he—he dead?” asked Bart, almost in a whisper. - -“Dead as a door nail, boys,” answered Joel Runnell. “He was a fighter -right enough, wasn’t he?” - -“I never want to go after another wolverene,” declared Joe. - -“You are right; one is enough,” returned Bart. For once his face was -strangely white. - -“What shall we do with the animal?” went on Joe. - -“May as well keep the hide,” answered the old hunter. “That will pay us -back for our deer meat. You can make a mat of it when you get home.” - -“I believe now some of the stories I have heard about wolverenes,” -declared Bart. “Why, this creature is about as bad to meet as a bear.” - -“Worse than some bears.” - -“Do you boys know what the wolverene is sometimes called?” asked the old -hunter. - -“I don’t know. What?” asked Joe. - -“The skunk bear, on account of its peculiar colorings. Yes, after this, -fight shy of wolverenes if you can help it.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXV - TEDDY EVENS THE SCORE - - -“You must have had a close call,” said Harry, when the others returned -to the camp and told their story. “I am mighty glad that wolverene -didn’t get a chance at me.” - -“Sure an’ if I see wan of them bastes I’ll run for me life,” came from -Teddy. “It’s worse nor a—a tiger they must be.” - -“Worse than Injuns, Teddy,” said Link, dryly. - -“Ah! Go run after your own shadow,” growled Teddy, in deep disgust. And -then, as he turned away there was a merry twinkle in his eyes. “Sure an’ -I’ll fix ’em to-night,” he murmured to himself. - -Link and Harry had employed their spare time in making for themselves -two pillows of pine needles. This was easy, for they had brought along -some bags for nuts and had merely to fill these and then sew up the open -ends. - -Watching his chance, Teddy got hold of the two pillows and also the box -containing pepper. Into each pillow he poured some pepper and also -sprinkled the outside liberally. - -It had been decided that an early start should be made the next morning -in a search for the three tramps, and Joel Runnell advised that all -hands turn in early. - -“I’m willing,” said Fred, and was the first to lie down and go to sleep. -Then the fire was fixed for the night and the others followed his -example. - -The silence in the shelter did not last long. Suddenly Link gave a -terrific sneeze and Harry followed suit. - -“Boys, get out of the draught or you’ll take cold,” came from Joel -Runnell. - -“I’m not in any—ker-chew!—draught,” answered Harry. - -“I am—ker-chew—I think—ker-chew—” spluttered Link, and ended with a -series of sneezes that brought all in the shelter to a sitting position. - -“Hullo, what’s the matter?” sang out Bart. - -“I-ker-chew! I think I’ve got the—ker-chew!” spluttered Harry. - -“I think so myself,” went on Bart. “Got ’em bad, too.” - -“Ker-chew!” exploded Link. “Ker-chew! Oh, my! Ker-chew!” - -“Well, I never,” came from Fred. “Is this a sneezing match?” - -“I’ll bet on the feller that wins,” piped up Teddy. “Now then, both -start together.” - -“Ker-chew!” began Link. - -“Ker-chew!” came from Harry, directly afterwards. - -“Didn’t start together,” went on Teddy, calmly. “Try it over again and -see——” - -“Ker-chew!” came from both. - -“Teddy Dugan, did you—ker-chew!” began Harry. - -“No, I didn’t ker-chew,” answered the Irish lad, with a wink at the -others. “I don’t chew at all. My father won’t let me use tobacco, and so -I——” - -“Ker-chew!” broke in both of the sufferers. - -“This is certainly queer,” said Joel Runnell, seriously. “What set you -to sneezing?” - -“Perhaps they tickled their noses wid straws,” suggested the -irrepressible Teddy. - -“I—I—ker-chew!—think there is pepper on my—ker-chew!—pillow,” spluttered -Link. - -Harry caught up his pillow and smelt of it. - -“Sure as you—ker-chew! ker-chew!—are born,” he cried. “Now, who did -this?” - -He and Link looked at first one and then another of the party. All but -Teddy looked perplexed. The twinkle in the Irish lad’s eyes was brighter -than ever. - -“Teddy Dugan, you did—ker-chew—this?” stormed Link, and made a dive for -him. - -“It’s snazin’ Injuns ye are now,” returned Teddy. - -“Oh, I’ll fix you for this!” roared Harry, and catching up his pillow he -hurled it at the Irish boy’s head. Link did the same, and down went -Teddy flat on his back. - -“Oh, stop!” he yelled. “I—ker-chew! Oh! Oh!” - -He threw one of the pillows at Link. It struck Joe instead, and Joe sent -it at Fred. Then the stout lad hurled it into the crowd. But it sailed -too high, struck the fire, and the pillow burst open. - -“Hi! hi!” called out Joel Runnell. “Take that out of the fire!” - -“Can’t—it’s bursted,” answered Joe. He bent forward over the blaze. “Oh, -what a smell! Ker-chew!” - -The pepper was now burning, and the smell speedily became so strong that -everybody had to sneeze and rush for the doorway. Into the open tumbled -the boys, one on top of the other. - -“Watch out; the shelter may get on fire!” said Fred. - -“Oh, don’t say that,” groaned Teddy, becoming frightened on the spot. -“Sure an’ I didn’t mane to carry the joke so far.” - -“Then you did do it after all?” murmured Fred. “Well, it was a good joke -all right enough.” - -From the doorway Joel Runnell watched the progress of the fire. The pine -needles soon died out, and the camp-fire became as before. But it was -some time before they could stand the smell of the burnt pepper. The -unburnt pillow was thrown out into the snow. - -“It was only to git square for the Indian trick,” said Teddy. “Won’t you -call it off now?” - -“Yes, Teddy,” said Harry, promptly, and shook hands, and then Link did -the same. - -All would have overslept on the following morning had not old Runnell -called them up ere it was daylight. He had already started the -breakfast, and soon some of the others were helping him. - -“Oh, must I get up so soon,” sighed Harry. “I could sleep three hours -more.” - -“No lazybones in this camp, young man,” cried Joe. “Remember, we are -going to try to locate those tramps.” - -It was a perfect day, with the sun shining brightly over the long -stretches of ice and snow. There was no wind, and on every side all was -as silent as a tomb, saving for the occasional cry of a winter bird, or -the distant barking of a fox. - -“This is genuine life in the open,” said Joe. “I tell you what, boys, we -couldn’t have a finer outing.” - -“I must try for some more pictures,” said Harry, and before he left the -camp he loaded his camera with films, so that he would be prepared to -“shoot” whatever struck his fancy. - -From Teddy they had obtained all the information possible concerning the -three tramps, and as soon as they were well on the road to the shore -Joel Runnell allowed Teddy to go in the lead. - -“Mind ye, I don’t say I can spot the rascals,” said the Irish lad. “But -I’ll do me best.” - -“That is all anybody can do, Teddy,” answered Joe. “Even if we don’t -catch ’em it won’t be such a terrible disappointment, although I’d like -to see the fellows brought to justice.” - -“They ought to be brought to justice,” put in old Runnell. “Nobody in -these parts will be safe with such rascals at large.” - -“I wonder what has become of Dan Marcy and Hiram Skeetles,” mused Harry. -“It’s a wonder they are not watching us, isn’t it?” - -“Guess the cold snap was too much for them,” answered Fred. “I don’t -believe old Skeetles cares much for an outing anyway. He’d rather stay -in town and make money.” - -“I’ve heard that he has been very mean to a great many persons,” said -Link. “There was one old Irish washerwoman that owed him ten or fifteen -dollars and he pestered the life out of her trying to get it.” - -“That’s right,” came from Teddy. “It was the Widdy O’Rourke, an’ my -folks and a lot of others made up a purse for her, so she could buy a -railroad ticket to Caleville, where her married daughter lives. The -daughter was too poor to pay for the ticket, but she wrote that if her -mother would come on she would do the best she could to give her a -home.” - -“And did old Skeetles get the ten or fifteen dollars?” asked Bart. - -“Sure he did. He wouldn’t let her leave town till she had paid. Oh, he’s -a skinflint, he is,” concluded Teddy. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI - THE HOUSE IN THE WOODS - - -They reached the shore at a point where a long stretch of pines bent -down heavily with their weight of snow. The scene was so beautiful that -Harry stopped long enough to get two time exposure pictures, using very -small stops, so that the outlines might be extra sharp. - -“There must be a whole lot about photography,” observed old Runnell. -“Those men that are in the business take fine pictures without half -trying, while on the other hand I’ve been out with amateurs, as they -called themselves, and they’d take picture after picture, but none of -’em seemed to amount to much. Some would be crooked, some wouldn’t be -sharp and clear enough, and some would be printed too light or too -dark.” - -“Well, I just guess there is a good deal about it,” came from Bart. “I -have a cousin who is learning the business in Boston, and he writes that -I can’t imagine how many details there are. First one must have the -right light and shade and the proper focus, and then, after the picture -is taken, the plate has got to be developed just so, to bring out the -negative to its best point, and then one must take great care in -printing the paper. He tells me that sometimes a single drop of a -certain kind of chemical will spoil everything.” - -“Reckon, lad, it’s a good bit like hunting, after all,” said old -Runnell. “Some folks think they can put a gun over their shoulder, run -to the forest, and shoot down jest what they want to. Well, they can’t -at all—you know that already. They have got to learn to shoot straight, -and keep cool, and have lots of patience, and then they have got to -learn about the habits of their game.” - -“And some folks never become good hunters any more than they can become -good photographers,” said Joe. “I guess one has got to have a strong -fancy for it, in the first place.” - -“Yes, and a strong fancy for anything that he really wants to succeed -in,” said Joel Runnell. - -When they went into a temporary camp for dinner Harry took a picture of -the group, and then Joe took another, with Harry in the middle, holding -a coffee pot in his hand. Nearly every young hunter had something—a gun, -or a hatchet, or some kitchen utensil, and this photograph caused a -great deal of laughter when it was shown around after they got home. - -By moving slowly along the shore, and making a close examination of -every sheet and drift of snow, Joel Runnell at last found the tracks of -three persons who had come from the lake. The tracks were those made by -three pairs of boots or shoes of good size. - -“Those must be the tramps’ tracks,” declared Joe. “Teddy was right; they -came almost directly across from the opposite shore.” - -“And now the question is, How far have they gone since they crossed the -lake?” put in Harry. - -“That’s the worst of it,” said Fred. “For all we know, they may be miles -and miles away from here by this time.” - -“Tramps are great for stealing rides on freight trains,” ventured Bart. -“How far is the railroad from this point?” - -“At least four miles,” answered Joel Runnell, “and a very rough road at -that. The nearest station is six miles. They couldn’t very well board a -freight train that was moving.” - -“I don’t believe tramps like to ride much in such freezing weather,” -came from Link. “More than likely they have found some sort of a hangout -around here, and are living off of what they can pick up, by honest or -dishonest means.” - -The matter was discussed for a short while, and it was concluded to -follow up the footprints until nightfall if no longer. - -“We may run across them sooner nor you expect,” said old Runnell. - -The tracks led directly through the woods and then toward a rise of -rocks which was swept almost clear of snow. Beyond the rocks was level -ground, and here was a country road, connecting two small villages of -that vicinity with Lakeport. - -“We’re getting into civilization,” said Joe. “This feels almost as if we -were going home.” - -“I don’t want to go home yet,” said Harry. - -“Nor I,” came in a chorus from the others. - -The tracks led along the roadway for perhaps half a mile, and then -turned still further from the lake. - -“Well, I declare!” cried Joel Runnell. “Wonder if those chaps went over -to Ike Slosson’s house.” - -“Where is that?” asked Fred. - -“About half a mile from here.” - -“Who is Ike Slosson?” asked Link. - -“He is a very peculiar man, who lives by himself up in yonder woods. -Some folks say he is very rich, while others have it that he is poor.” - -“Do you say he lives all alone?” - -“Yes, and has for years. He used to have a son live with him, but the -boy died and that kind of made the old man queer in his head. But he -isn’t a bad sort by any means. Once, when I was caught in the woods in a -blizzard he took me in and treated me well. But he don’t care for -company.” - -“He would be just the sort of man those tramps would rob,” put in Joe. - -The tracks of the feet in the snow were plainly to be seen, and as they -continued on their way Joel Runnell became more and more convinced that -the three tramps had gone to Ike Slosson’s house. - -“When we come in sight of the house, I want you to halt,” said the old -hunter. “For all we know it may not be safe to show ourselves.” - -On and on they went. In spots the way was very rough, and they had to -help each other over the rocks. At one point they could see where the -tramps had halted for a meal, and here in the snow lay an empty liquor -flask. - -“That is evidence to me that the persons are the tramps we are after,” -said Joe. “They were all drinking men.” - -They had now to force their way through some short undergrowth and then -cross a small stream, which in the summer time flowed into the lake. The -stream was now a solid mass of ice. - -“The house is just beyond yonder belt of trees,” said Joel Runnell, at -last. “You had better stay here while I investigate.” - -“Let us go a little closer and hide behind the nearest trees,” suggested -Joe, and after a few words this was done. - -With his gun over his shoulder Joel Runnell continued to advance until -he was crossing the small clearing directly in front of the house, which -was an old affair, a story and a half high, and containing but four -rooms. The place looked to be closed and deserted. - -“Hullo, Ike Slosson,” sang out the old hunter, when within fifty feet of -the doorway. “Hullo, I say!” - -Scarcely had he called out when there was a commotion in the house. He -heard a shuffling of feet and some excited talking. - -“Go away!” cried a high-pitched voice. “Go away, I say! I want no -strangers around my house! Go away!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII - A PLAN FOR A CAPTURE - - -The words used were those which Ike Slosson had often uttered when folks -of that neighborhood came around his house and he did not wish to -entertain them. As Joel Runnell had said, the old man was very peculiar -and at times he refused utterly to see even those he knew to be his -friends. For strangers he had no welcome whatever. He knew old Runnell, -however, and had treated him better than he had many another man. The -hunter had once given him some fine rabbits and a partridge, and this -had won Ike Slosson’s heart. - -Joel Runnell halted, but did not retreat. The shuffling of several pairs -of feet had not escaped his sharp ears, and now those ears told him that -it was not Ike Slosson who was speaking, but somebody who was trying, in -a crude manner, to imitate the hermit. - -“I say, go away!” came in the same voice. “I want no strangers here.” - -“Whose place is this?” asked old Runnell, calmly. - -“It is my place, and I want you to go away, or I’ll set the dog on you.” - -This reply made Joel Runnell smile to himself, for he knew very well -that Ike Slosson despised dogs and would never have one near him. - -“Who are you?” - -“Never mind who I am. I want you to go away.” - -“Won’t you sell me a supper?” - -“No. I have hardly enough for myself.” - -“I’ll pay you well.” - -“Can’t help it. I have nothing to sell. Now go away, or I’ll put out the -dog.” - -“Don’t send out your dog; I’ll go,” cried Joel Runnell, in pretended -alarm, and then turning, he made his way to the shelter of the trees. - -“How did you make out?” whispered Joe. - -“Hush! don’t speak,” said the old hunter, warningly. “Crawl back, or -somebody may see you.” - -The boys moved to a safe place, and then clustered around the old hunter -for information. Joel Runnell was chuckling quietly to himself. - -“Thought they’d play a joke on me, didn’t they?” he said. “But I’ll soon -have the boot on the other leg.” - -“What do you mean?” asked Harry. - -The old hunter then told of what had been said. “It wasn’t Ike Slosson -who was speaking at all,” he added. “It was some other man, and his -voice was thick with liquor. I’ve a notion those fellows have done -something to Slosson and taken possession of his house and all of his -goods and money.” - -“Can they have killed the old man?” asked Link, in quick alarm. - -Joel Runnell shrugged his shoulders. “There is no telling.” - -“Let us rush out, surround the house, and capture the rascals,” came -from Bart. - -“Hurrah!” shouted Teddy, enthusiastically. “Sure an’ we’ll have a -regular Donnybrook Fair, such as me father often tells about.” - -“No! no!” answered old Runnell. “Some of you would be sure to get shot -or hurt in some way.” - -“But we came for the express purpose of catching those tramps,” cried -Joe. “I’m not afraid to tackle them.” - -“We are seven to three,” said Fred. “Perhaps they’ll surrender, when -they see how many there are of us.” - -“Not if they have done something to Ike Slosson, lad. They’ll fight hard -to get away. I have another plan. Five of us can watch the house while -the other two tramp to the nearest village and get some officers. Then -we can pounce on ’em while they are asleep.” - -This was considered excellent advice, and it was speedily decided that -Harry and Bart were to go to the village of Bralham, two miles away. The -others were to surround the house and keep a close watch so that none of -those inside could escape. - -The sun had now set and it was quite dark by the time Harry and Bart -struck the road leading to Bralham, a place consisting of half a dozen -houses, a store and a grist mill. What help they could muster at such a -place was still a question. - -“Perhaps nobody will care to take hold with us,” observed Harry, as they -trudged along. “Some of these country constables are mighty afraid of -their hides, when it comes to catching a criminal.” - -There was no moon, but countless stars shone in the dear sky, making the -path fairly light. All was very quiet, until directly over their heads -an owl let out a mournful hoot. - -“Oh!” cried Bart, and leaped back several feet. “What was that?” - -“An owl,” answered Harry, with a laugh. - -“How he scared me.” - -They could not see the owl, or Bart might have taken a shot at the -creature. The scare made the lad nervous, and he trembled a little as -they continued on their journey. - -“I don’t know as I should care to walk this road alone at night,” he -said. “I am glad we live in the town and not out in the country or in -the woods.” - -“I fancy it is what one gets used to, Bart. I’ve heard it said a -countryman can’t sleep in the city for the noise, and some city folks -can’t sleep in the country because it’s too quiet.” - -“Yes, I’ve heard that, too. But I think—Oh, my, what was that?” - -Both boys halted as some dark object passed across the road a couple of -rods in front of them. What the object was they could not discern. - -“I guess it was a rabbit or else a fox,” said Harry, as lightly as he -could. “Come on.” - -“Could it have been a—a bear?” - -“No, it wasn’t large enough for that. Come on,” and now Harry urged Bart -along. A little while after this they came within sight of the light in -a farmhouse kitchen, and then both boys felt much relieved. - -Going up to the door of the house they knocked, and a burly farmer -answered their summons. - -“Good evening,” said Harry, politely. - -“Good evening, lad, what can I do for you?” questioned the farmer, -gazing at both boys curiously. He saw that they had guns, but no game, -and concluded they were hungry and wanted supper. - -“Will you tell us where we can find a constable, or some other officer?” - -“Want a constable, eh? Did somebody steal your game?” And the farmer -smiled, quizzically. - -“No, we want the constable to arrest three tramps who are wanted for -stealing.” - -“Shoo! You don’t say!” Farmer Libby was all attention. “Where are the -tramps?” - -“Over to Ike Slosson’s house. They have taken full possession.” - -“Where is Slosson?” - -“We don’t know. The tramps must have done something to him.” - -“I always said somethin’ would happen to Ike,” put in the farmer’s wife. -“It hain’t human for him to be a-livin’ alone as he does. Samuel, you -must help in this.” - -“Guess I must,” said Samuel Libby. “But I’ll have to tell Constable -Peabody, and big Jim Bowman, too. Jim’s a powerful fellow when there’s -trouble to be met.” - -The farmer wanted the two boys to tell their tale, and they did so -without delay. While they talked he put on his overcoat and got down his -shotgun; and five minutes later all three were on their way to where -Constable Peabody resided, in the center of the village. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII - THE LAST OF THE TRAMPS - - -The constable was found in the village store, comfortably fixed on a -soap box, and narrating for probably the fiftieth time how he had once -caught two lumber thieves on the lake single-handed. The crowd had heard -the tale many times, but as the constable always added fresh particulars -at each telling, they were willing to listen again. - -“So you want me, do you?” he said to Samuel Libby and the two young -hunters. “All right, I’m your man. What is it, fire away?” - -When he was told what was desired he looked grave. - -“This ain’t no ordinary case,” he argued. “Them tramps must be des’prit -characters. I’ll have to take a posse along.” - -“No posse needed, Peabody,” said Farmer Libby. “Take Jim Bowman and -myself. Remember, old Joel Runnell is a-watchin’ ’em with four young -fellows. Ten men and boys ought to be enough to capture three -good-for-nothing tramps.” - -“Are you going back with us?” asked the constable of Bart and Harry. - -“Certainly we are,” answered Harry. “My brother and I want to learn what -became of his watch, if we can.” - -It was not long after this that big Jim Bowman was found, a lumberman -reputed to be the strongest fellow for miles around. He said he would go -willingly, and took with him a stout club. - -“Don’t much need it,” he said to the young hunters. “When I get in a -mix-up I like to use my fists.” - -“Well, it’s a good thing to know how to use your fists sometimes,” -answered Bart. - -The late moon was now coming up, so the roadway was lighter than it had -been. Both Bart and Harry were tired because of all the tramping they -had done, yet they did their best to keep up with the others. Jim Bowman -led the way, taking strides that no one could have equaled. - -“He must know how to handle lumber,” whispered Harry to Bart. “Just -notice how muscular he is.” - -“It is the constant outdoor life that has made him so strong, Harry.” - -On they went until the bypath was gained. The constable had brought -along a lantern, but this was not lit, for the rising moon was making it -lighter every minute. - -At last they halted and Harry gave a low whistle—a signal which had been -agreed upon. A low whistle came in return, and almost immediately Joel -Runnell came into view. He knew the constable by sight and Samuel Libby -personally and nodded to them. - -“Haven’t heard anything more out of ’em,” he said. “I’ll guess they -think I went away.” - -“Any light in the place?” asked the constable. - -“Yes, a candle light in the kitchen. I wanted to crawl up and take a -peep inside, but thought I wouldn’t risk it, for fear they’d spot me and -try to dust out.” - -After this the others were called up and a regular council of war -ensued. Constable Peabody took charge, and he asked all to march up with -him and surround the house. Then, taking Jim Bowman with him, he knocked -loudly on the back door. - -“Who’s there?” asked a rough voice, and then the voice was changed to an -imitation of Ike Slosson’s and the speaker continued: “Go away! I want -no strangers here. Go away!” - -“Look here, this Tom-foolery won’t do!” cried the constable. “Open the -door, or I’ll have it broken down.” - -At this there was an added commotion in the house. Two men came to a -window and peeped out. - -“Hullo! there are half a dozen men out there,” muttered one. - -“And they have got guns,” growled the other. “Muley, I reckon de jig’s -up.” - -“Who are you?” asked Noxy, the man at the door. - -“An officer of the law, and I demand that you surrender,” shouted -Constable Peabody, pompously. - -“Boys, we must skip,” whispered the tramp called Stump. “If we don’t -we’re sure to do time.” - -“Are you going to open up or not?” demanded the constable. - -To this there was no answer. - -“Jim, I reckon you had better try your strength,” went on the officer. - -The big lumberman was only too willing. He put his shoulder to the door -and it went in with a crash. - -“Now come out of that, one at a time,” sang out the constable. “And -remember, we are ten to three, so it won’t do you any good to fight.” - -“Are there ten o’ ’em?” gasped Noxy. - -“Shouldn’t wonder,” growled Stump. “That feller who was here before must -have told the sheriff. Say, wot are we goin’ to do?” - -“Hang me if I know.” - -The three tramps stared blankly at one another. They were caught like -rats in a trap. They tiptoed their way to the next room, and looked -forth from the windows. - -“I see four men and boys,” said one. - -“An’ three on this side,” came from another. “There must be ten o’ ’em -after all. Boys, our goose is cooked.” - -“Are you coming out, or have we got to fire on you?” continued Constable -Peabody. - -“I’ll give ’em a dose of buckshot,” put in Joel Runnell, although he had -no idea of firing for the present. - -“That’s it,” sang out Joe, who was likewise fooling. - -“No! no! don’t shoot!” howled Stump, who was the most cowardly of the -trio. “Don’t shoot!” - -“Will you come out?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then come, and put your hands over your head.” - -Looking decidedly sheepish the tramp marched out of the house, holding -both hands over his head. In a moment Constable Peabody was behind him -and had the rascal handcuffed. - -“Now you other fellows come out, too,” said the officer. “One at a time, -and with your hands up. If you try any funny work I’ll order my men to -fire.” - -There was a pause for a moment and then Noxy slouched out. He was -quickly followed by Muley, who looked as if he wanted very much to run -away. But the tramps were given no chance to escape, and soon all were -tightly handcuffed. - -“Well, how do you like the situation?” asked Joe, as he faced Muley. -“Can’t you tell me what time it is?” - -The tramp looked at the young hunter and then fell back a step. - -“You!” he gasped. - -“I say, can’t you tell me what time it is? If you’ll remember, you have -my watch and chain.” - -“Say dis beats de nation,” murmured Muley. “Did youse fellers follow us -up?” - -“We did.” - -“What have you done with my brother’s watch?” asked Harry. - -“I ain’t got de watch,” growled the tramp. But later on, when he was -searched, the watch and chain were found in his pocket, he having no -chance to sell or pawn the articles. - -While this talk was going on Constable Peabody was questioning Stump and -Noxy about what had been done to Ike Slosson. At first neither of the -tramps wanted to talk, but at last Stump confessed that they had gotten -the old man away from home by delivering to him a bogus telegram, -stating that a rich relative had died in Springfield and that there was -much money awaiting him. The hermit had been just simple-minded enough -to go away, and as soon as he was gone they had taken possession of his -house, where they had expected to remain until it was time for Slosson -to get back. - -“Well, you’ll not stay here any longer,” said Constable Peabody, grimly. -“You’ll spend a good part of the future in the lockup, if I know -anything about it.” - -“I reckon I missed it when I took dat young man’s watch an’ chain,” said -Muley, with a hitch of his shoulders. “But I never t’ought he’d follow -us like dis, never.” - -Another conference was held, and as a result it was decided that the -constable, assisted by big Jim Bowman and Farmer Libby, should march the -prisoners to a temporary lockup and later transfer them to the Lakeport -jail, there to await the action of the court. It may be added here that -this was done, and the three tramps received sentences which kept them -from doing further harm for some time to come. - -“Well, we won out that time,” said Joe, as the young hunters and Joel -Runnell started, the next day, for the camp on Pine Island. “I am glad -we went after those tramps before they had a chance to leave Ike -Slosson’s house.” - -“We’ll have to give Teddy credit,” said Harry. “He’s the one who made -this capture possible.” And the Irish lad was warmly praised, much to -his satisfaction. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX - A GREAT MOOSE CHASE - - -All were anxious to learn if the shelter on the island had been -disturbed during their absence. When they arrived at the spot they found -everything as they had left it, much to their satisfaction. - -“I’m going to take it easy for a day,” said Joe. “I think we all deserve -a rest.” - -“Second the commotion,” said Fred, and so they rested. - -“I’ve got to go home,” said Teddy. “I’m sorry to leave you all, but it -can’t be helped.” And he left them that noon, all hands giving him a -rousing cheer as he departed. He carried with him four rabbits taken -from the traps and also a very fat turkey which Joel Runnell managed to -lay low for him. - -The boys all felt that their hunting tour must soon come to an end, and -having rested, they resolved to make the most of the time that still -remained to them. - -“We may never get another chance to go out like this,” said Harry. “One -thing I’d like to bring down before we leave. That is a moose.” - -“I guess a moose would suit all of us,” cried Link. “But I don’t think -we are going to get any. Moose are mighty scarce around here.” - -“Link is right,” put in Joel Runnell. “But for all that we may spot one -before we go.” - -“Oh, have you seen any signs of a moose?” ejaculated Harry. - -“I’ve seen some signs that may have been made by a moose, although a big -deer would leave the same marks.” - -The shelter was now a very cozy place, for all of the boys spent their -leisure time in fixing it up. They had long ago named it Two-Tree Lodge, -and Fred had cut out a sign with his jackknife and this was hung over -the doorway. - -“If folks only knew what a fine camping-out spot this island is, I dare -say there would be many more people here,” declared Bart. - -It must not be imagined that Joe and Harry had forgotten about Hiram -Skeetles’ missing pocketbook, that which contained the papers of so much -value. - -“We must hunt for those papers, Joe,” said Harry, and they went out not -once but several times. But, although they hunted high and low, among -the bushes, rocks, and in the snow, the pocketbook and the valuable -papers failed to come to light. The most they found was the real estate -dealer’s business card, which Joe picked up late one afternoon. - -“Hullo! I’ve found old Skeetles’ card,” he sang out, and Harry rushed to -his side to look it over. - -“Anything else, Joe?” - -“No. But this card shows that we are on the right track.” - -“That is true.” - -After the card was found they hunted around until long after dark, but -nothing else was discovered, much to their disappointment. - -“Perhaps the pocketbook was washed into the lake after all,” said Fred, -who was very much interested, and who had hunted some on his own -account. “If you’ll remember, we had some pretty hard rains before -winter set in.” - -One day all of the boys went gunning deep into the woods back of the -shelter. They went on their snowshoes, and managed to scare up eight -rabbits, four squirrels, and seven partridges. It was a beautiful day -for such sport, and in addition to bringing down his share of the game, -Harry procured several photographs, one showing Joe in the act of -bringing down two partridges with one shot. - -“That will prove that you are an out-and-out hunter, Joe,” said Harry, -after the snap shot was taken. “They can’t go back on a picture.” - -“Oh, you must remember, there are lots of trick photos,” said Joe, with -a laugh. “Don’t you remember that one we saw of a man shooting at -himself?” - -“Yes,” put in Link, “and I once saw a picture of a man riding himself in -a wheelbarrow. But we can all testify that this is no trick photo.” - -Sunday the boys took it easy, and it was a rest well earned and well -needed. - -“Now for the last of our outing,” sighed Harry. “This week will wind it -up.” - -“Let us look at the traps,” came from Bart, and he and Link and Fred did -so, and found in them two rabbits and a squirrel. There were also signs -of a wolf around two of the traps, but they did not catch sight of the -beast. - -“I fancy that wolf wanted to get one of our rabbits,” said Link. -“Perhaps we scared him off just in time.” - -“I want nothing to do with wolves,” said Bart. “If they’ll let me alone, -I’ll let them alone.” - -A couple of days later old Runnell came in somewhat excited. “Unless I -am greatly mistaken, I have seen the track of a moose,” he said. “I am -going to follow up the tracks. Who wants to go along?” - -Who? All of them, and they said so in chorus, while each reached for his -gun. Old Runnell made them put on their snowshoes and fill their game -bags with provisions. - -“We may be gone until to-morrow,” he said. “Running down a moose is no -easy thing, even if the snow is deep.” - -The route lay along the shore and then across the lake to the mainland. -They struck the shore at a point where the pines were heavy, and Joe -Runnell showed the young hunters where the moose had stopped to feed. - -“He’s after some tender bark,” said the old hunter. “See how he nosed -around in the snow for it.” - -After a brief rest they continued their journey, but night found the -game still out of sight, and they had to go into camp in the best -shelter they could find. - -“Never mind,” said Harry. “A moose isn’t to be found here every day.” - -“No, nor every week, either,” added old Runnell. “So far I haven’t heard -of a single one being brought down this winter.” - -They were up again before sunrise and following the tracks as before. -These now led up a rise of ground and Joel Runnell went in advance. - -“The tracks are getting fresher,” he announced. “I don’t think he’s a -mile off at the most.” - -They went on for a short distance farther, and then Joe put up his hand. - -“Hark!” he said, in a low voice. “What sort of a noise is that?” - -They listened, and from a distance heard a scraping and sawing that was -most unusual. - -“We’ve got him!” said old Runnell. “That’s the moose rubbing himself on -a tree.” - -He crept forward, with the others close behind. Soon they came to a -little opening in the forest. Here were several rocks backed up by a -clump of hemlocks. Against one of the hemlocks stood a tall, magnificent -moose, with wide-spreading antlers. He had been scraping his back on the -rough bark, and now he proceeded to repeat the operation. - -“You boys can all fire at the same time,” whispered Joel Runnell. “I’ll -wait and see what you can do.” And giving them time to take aim, he gave -the signal. - -The guns rang out together almost as one piece, causing a tremendous -report to echo throughout the forest, and filling the little opening -with smoke. - -“You’ve got him!” shouted Joel Runnell, with as much joy in his voice as -if he had brought the game down himself. And when the smoke lifted they -saw the moose totter and pitch headlong. Once, twice the animal tried to -rise up, then over he went with a thud on the rocks, gave a kick or two, -and lay still. - -With loud shouts of triumph the young hunters rushed in. But old Runnell -held them back. - -“Beware,” he cried. “He may give a last kick that will split some one’s -head open. Wait!” And they waited until they were certain that life was -extinct. - -“What a beautiful haul!” came from Bart. “And see, every one of us hit -him in the neck and breast.” - -“I’m glad we didn’t hit him in the face,” said Joe. “We can mount that -head and it will be something fine.” - -“Yes, but who is to keep it?” asked Harry. - -“We can take turns,” was the answer, and this caused a laugh. - -To get such large game back to the camp at Needle Rock was not easy, and -it took them until long after nightfall to cover the distance, and then -all were thoroughly exhausted. The moose was placed in a safe place, and -they retired without taking the trouble to cook a regular supper. - - - - - CHAPTER XXX - THE FIND—END OF THE OUTING - - -Noon of the next day found Joe walking along the lake shore some -distance below the camp. On the outing the day before he had lost a -glove and he was trying to locate it in the snow. - -“I’m pretty sure I dropped it somewhere along here,” he told himself. “I -know I had it on just before we came to those bushes yonder.” - -He was still some distance from the bushes when he espied a dark object -hanging from one of the branches, among some dried leaves. Thinking it -was either the lost glove or the remains of an old bird’s nest, he went -over to investigate. The next instant he set up a shout of joy: - -“The pocketbook! The pocketbook at last!” - -He was right; the pocketbook was there, hanging down from the long -string which had been wrapped around it—a dingy, brown affair, well worn -at all of the corners and containing two pockets. - -With a heart that thumped wildly in his breast, Joe took hold of the -pocketbook to examine it. Scarcely had he done so when he gave a groan -and his hopes fell as rapidly as they had risen. - -The pocketbook was empty. It contained absolutely nothing at all. - -“Sold!” he muttered, laconically. “Sold, and just when I thought I had -it!” - -“What have you found, Joe?” came in Harry’s voice, and a moment later -his brother came up. - -“Here is Hiram Skeetles’ pocketbook—but it is empty.” - -“You don’t say!” Harry looked at the object a moment. “Was it hanging -like that when you first saw it?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then perhaps the contents dropped out, or was shaken out by the wind.” - -“To be sure.” Joe went down on his knees at the roots of the bush and -began to scrape away the snow. “I hope we do find something.” - -Harry began to assist, and soon the snow was gone and they began to dig -in among the dead leaves and sticks. Then Joe hauled up several cards -with Hiram Skeetles’ name on them and a memorandum of some property -located near the lake. - -“Here is something belonging to old Skeetles,” said he. - -“Here is another paper,” said Harry. “It’s a bill of sale for a town -lot,” he added, looking it over hastily. - -An instant later Joe came across a large envelope containing several -legal-looking documents. He brushed the dirt from the covering and tried -to make out some handwriting on it. - -“The papers!” he shouted, joyfully. “Grandfather Anderson’s papers as -sure as you are born!” - -“Let me see!” ejaculated Harry, and bent over the find. They hauled the -papers from the envelope and looked them over. Their grandfather was -mentioned in a number of places, and also two plots of land they had -heard their parents discuss. Clearly these were the papers that were so -much needed. - -“We’ll take them to camp and read them over carefully,” said Joe. “And -if they are what we want we had best go right home with them.” - -“Won’t mother and father be astonished when they get the news,” added -Harry. - -They were soon back to camp, and here sat down to look over their find. -They had just concluded to their satisfaction when Fred, who was outside -cutting firewood, set up a shout: - -“Here comes old Skeetles and Dan Marcy!” - -“Quick, Joe, put the papers out of sight,” whispered Harry, and this was -done. - -In a few minutes Hiram Skeetles and Dan Marcy reached the shelter. - -“So ye burnt the lodge down!” exclaimed the real estate dealer. “I’ll -have the law on ye fer that!” - -“The lodge was burnt down by accident,” answered Joe. “We are willing to -pay a fair amount for the damage done.” - -“Humph! And what made ye come over here to camp out?” asked Skeetles, -anxiously. - -“Because we felt like it,” answered Fred. - -“I said ye could stay over to the lodge, not here.” - -“Well, we came here,” put in Joe. “But we are not going to stay very -long. I and Harry are going home, and I guess the rest will go with us.” - -The real estate dealer looked at the Westmore boys sharply. - -“Did ye find—er—anything belongin’ to me around here?” he asked, -suspiciously. - -“We did—a pocketbook and these cards and papers,” answered Joe, boldly, -and handed over what belonged to the miserly man. - -“What!” Hiram Skeetles turned first red and then white. “Did ye—er—find -anything else?” - -“Nothing belonging to you, Mr. Skeetles.” - -“Nothin’ belongin’ to me, eh? What else did ye find?” - -“You’ll learn about that later,” said Harry. - -“Ha! you’re keepin’ something back! I can see it in yer faces! Give it -up, I say, give it up!” And Hiram Skeetles took a savage step forward. - -“Leave the lads alone,” came sternly from Joel Runnell. “What they’ve -got belongs to them.” - -“He’s got them papers!” screamed Skeetles, losing all self-control. -“Take ’em from him, Dan!” And he pointed at Joe. - -Marcy took a step forward as if to catch hold of Joe, but a -well-directed blow from old Runnell’s hand sent him sprawling in the -snow. - -“Clear out,” said the old hunter, wrathfully. “If you don’t——” - -He tapped his gun, but it was unnecessary. The bully staggered to his -feet and retreated without delay. Seeing this, Hiram Skeetles also fell -back, glaring angrily at our friends as he did so. - -“What are ye goin’ to do?” he asked, after a pause. - -“I am going to help my folks get back the property that belongs to -them,” answered Joe. “Hiram Skeetles, you are found out, and the less -fuss you make the better off you’ll be.” - -“Those papers ain’t no good.” - -“That remains to be seen. What I want to know is, how did you manage to -steal them?” - -“Steal ’em?” Hiram Skeetles’ lips quivered. “Didn’t steal ’em. Dan Marcy -got——” - -“Don’t you lay it off on me,” howled the bully. “Skeetles told me they -belonged to him, and that’s why I got ’em. If I had known——” He stopped -short. - -“My opinion of it is, you are both a precious pair of rascals,” came -from Joel Runnell. “And that being so, I want you to leave these boys -alone.” - -A wordy war followed, but old Runnell and the young hunters were -obdurate, and at last Hiram Skeetles and Dan Marcy withdrew, the former -trembling for what the future might have in store and the bully like a -dog that has been thoroughly whipped. - -“I move we start for home at once,” said Joe, and Harry seconded the -motion. The others were willing, and they started less than an hour -after, dragging their diminished stores and the balance of the moose -after them. - -The coming into Lakeport with such big game attracted considerable -attention, and they were loudly congratulated on the success of their -hunting tour; but the majority of the people did not know the full -extent of their success until some time later, when the truth concerning -the missing papers was announced. - -“They are the real papers,” said Mrs. Westmore. “It is wonderful how you -managed to locate them.” - -“We will start proceedings against Hiram Skeetles without delay,” said -Mr. Westmore, and this was done. The real estate dealer put up a feeble -fight, but the evidence was all against him, and in the end the property -came into the Westmore possession. Then it was also decided that -Skeetles had no claim upon Pine Island. The real estate dealer grew so -unpopular in that neighborhood that soon he moved to another section of -the country and that was almost the last seen or heard of him. - -“I guess Dan Marcy feels rather mean,” said Joe. “He knows he didn’t -treat us right.” - -“Oh, Marcy has a thick hide and wouldn’t feel mean over anything,” -answered Fred. “As soon as this affair blows over he’ll go around -bullying folks just as much as ever.” And this proved true, although -Marcy, for a long while to come, gave the Westmores, Fred, and old -Runnell a wide berth. - -The young hunters never tired of talking of the grand outing they had -had. - -“It was a dandy,” said Fred. “I declare, I feel like a regular hunter -now.” - -“I guess we all do,” said Link. “Although Bart and I weren’t out as long -as you fellows.” - -“Never mind—I had my share of the fun,” put in Bart. - -“We had our sports and hardships pretty well mixed,” came from Joe. “But -as everything came out as it should in the end we needn’t complain.” - -“Complain!” cried Harry. “I’d like to have another outing just like it -next winter.” - -The others said the same. And here let us for the present say good-by to -the Gun Club Boys of Lakeport. More good times were in store for them, -and what some of these were will be told in another volume, to be -called, “The Baseball Boys of Lakeport; or, The Winning Run.” Baseball -is our great national sport, as all my readers know, and when clubs play -each other the rivalry is of the keenest. - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber’s note: - ---Silently corrected obvious typographical errors; non-standard - spellings and dialect not changed. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GUN CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT*** - - -******* This file should be named 52386-0.txt or 52386-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/2/3/8/52386 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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