Guns and Snowshoes; Or, the Winter Outing of the Young Hunters Part 14

The four boy hunters held a consultation, which almost ended in a quarrel. Whopper was determined to go ahead after the deer and so was Shep, while Snap and Giant insisted upon returning to the camp.

"I'll tell you what's let do," said Whopper. "Two of us can go on and two go back. That's fair."

"And the two to go back can take the game to camp," added Shep. "There is no use of our carrying it with us. And, besides, if we get a deer, that will be a big load for us."

"Aren't you afraid of a big snow coming on?" questioned Snap.

"Oh, this snow won't amount to anything," declared the doctor's son.

"Perhaps it will."

Snap and Giant took possession of all the game, and turned over to Shep and Whopper the lunch that had been brought along.

"We can get what we want when we reach camp," said Snap. "And you may need this before you get back."

"If I were you I wouldn't stay out too late," cautioned Giant. "If you do, you may lose your way in the dark."

"We'll be safe enough," answered Whopper confidantly.

It was no light load for Snap and Giant to carry, for the turkey, rabbits and squirrels were all big. They saw Shep and Whopper depart and rested fully five minutes before taking to the back trail.

"I wish they had come with us," said the leader of the Gun Club. "I doubt if they get a deer--the wind is blowing directly toward the game."

"Well, they wanted to go so let them," answered Giant.

The barked s.h.i.+n hurt considerably and he was anxious to get back to camp, that he might wash it and bathe it with witch hazel.

"Let us go up the lake and across on the ice," suggested Snap. "It will be shorter, and we'll avoid that nasty gully and the rough rocks."

They took to the course mentioned, and inside of half an hour reached the lake front once more. It was now snowing steadily and the wind was gradually rising.

"I said it was going to snow hard," grumbled Snap. "They should have come with us. It won't be fit to be out in another hour."

"Well, they wanted their own way, so let them have it," answered his companion.

They wished they had their skates to skate across a cove which separated them from the camp. The bare spots on the ice were as slippery as wet gla.s.s and they had to walk "as if on eggs," as Snap expressed it. Once his right foot went from under him, and he measured his length on his back, while his gun slid a dozen feet away.

"Come here and I'll pick you up," sang out Giant merrily, as soon as he saw his chum was not hurt.

"That was a peachy fall," grumbled Snap, as he turned over and got up.

"Glad the gun didn't go off."

"Do you know what I am going to do--if it doesn't snow too hard?" said Giant, as they walked on again. "Try my luck at fis.h.i.+ng through a hole in the ice. Fish will taste good for breakfast."

They were directly in the middle of the lake when a distant gunshot reached their ears, followed by another. They halted and listened.

"Whopper and Shep must have found something to shoot at," remarked the smaller member of the Gun Club.

"Or else there are other hunters in this vicinity. I shouldn't be surprised if Jed Sanborn is out."

"Yes, and a dozen others, for the matter of that."

By the time they had crossed the lake the wind was blowing furiously, sending the snow whirling over the smooth ice in long white streaks.

More than half out of breath, the two young hunters were glad enough to reach the shelter of the trees and bushes.

"It's going to be a corker," was Snap's comment. "Just listen to the wind whistling through the trees!"

"I don't think I'll try fis.h.i.+ng just yet," said Giant. "I might get frozen fast to the ice."

"Fis.h.i.+ng will have to wait, Giant. Come on into the Inn."

They were glad enough to enter the shelter and rest for a few minutes.

Then, when they had regained their breath, both set about building a fire. Luckily they had saved some dry bark and brushwood, so starting the blaze was comparatively easy. They heaped on several medium-sized sticks and then a good back and a front log, and soon the fire was roaring merrily. The home-made chimney was wide open at the top, so a good deal of heat was lost, yet enough remained below to warm the shelter nicely.

"I tell you, a fire makes all the difference in the world!" declared Snap, as he pulled off his outer coat and cap and sat down close to the chimney. "No matter how forlorn or lonely a fellow feels, a fire is bound to brighten him up and make him feel on better terms with himself."

"Right you are, Snap. I pity the fellow who gets left in the woods without a match, or the wherewith to start a camp-fire," answered Giant, who was using the witch hazel on his ankle.

As soon as they were warm, the two boys set to work to cook themselves a substantial meal. They prepared sufficient for all hands, thinking that Shep and Whopper would be back in an hour or two at the most.

"They won't stay out very long--with this snowstorm on," remarked Snap. "They know what such a storm means as well as we do."

Before leaving camp that morning Giant had made some bread dough and set it for raising. This was now in good shape and he kneaded it over and made some loaves and some m.u.f.fins. The m.u.f.fins they used for their meal, along with more beans and some stewed squirrel, and a pot of hot chocolate. They ate leisurely, at the same time keeping their ears on the alert for the coming of their companions. Three times during the meal Snap went to the doorway, to gaze out.

"They are foolish not to come back before it gets night," he said. "If they don't look out they'll be snow-bound."

"Oh, Snap, do you think so?" cried the smaller member of the club, in alarm.

"It might happen, Giant. Just look how it is snowing! Why, I can't see a hundred feet from the Inn!"

Giant came to the opening and peered forth. Snap was right, the snow was coming down thickly, and the fierce wind sent it swirling in all directions. The landscape on all sides was completely blotted out.

"Oh, if only they had come back with us!" murmured Giant.

Both of the boys sighed and returned to the fireside, finis.h.i.+ng their meal in silence. They were much worried, more than they cared to admit to each other.

The meal over, Giant warmed some water and washed the few tin dishes and other things which had been dirtied. Snap put another log on the fire, and then got out the acetylene bicycle lamp that had been brought along.

"What are you going to do with that?" questioned Giant.

"Light it and hang it out for a searchlight," answered Snap. "It may aid them in finding the Inn."

The gas lamp was soon fizzing and then Snap applied a match. As it flashed up, he regulated the light and then the affair was taken outside and hung where its rays might flash forth through the storm and across the cove of the lake.

"They can see that quite a distance, even through the flying snow,"

said the leader of the Gun Club. "And they'll want all the light they can get, to find their way back."

He and Giant sat down again in front of the roaring fire. They watched the sparks fly upward and the ruddy glare showed a concerned look on the face of each. They did not care to read or play any game, and talked in low tones, each with his ears strained to catch any sound from without.