Guns and Snowshoes; Or, the Winter Outing of the Young Hunters Part 19

"What's that for?" asked Kiddy beech, in curiosity.

"It is easier to drag the deer than to carry it," answered Whopper.

"The branch will act as a kind of sled."

"Wish I had a sled to ride on, my back is pretty lame."

Both boys looked at the tramp closely, wondering whether or not he was speaking the truth or shamming. For all they knew he might be as lazy as he was good for nothing. Then Shep whispered to Whopper.

"All right, it won't be for far," whispered Whopper in return.

"You can sit down on the branch beside the deer," said the doctor's son to Kiddy Leech. "We can easily pull you along."

"Thanks, boys, that's kind of you," answered the tramp, and dropped down with a deep sigh of satisfaction.

With their double load the two young hunters did not make very rapid progress across the lake cove. When they came in sight of the flag, which still flew from the sapling, they set up a loud and ringing shout.

"Hullo!" came back from Snap, as he rushed from the shelter, followed by Giant. "Back at last, eh? Are you all right?"

"Yes," answered Whopper. "But we've had quite an adventure, I can tell you. And we've got a deer!" he added, with pride.

Snap and Giant came to the sh.o.r.e to help pull the load up to the camp and then noticed the tramp.

"Hullo!" cried Giant. "How is it you are getting a free ride?"

"Do you know him?" questioned Shep, quickly.

"Not exactly. He came to our house begging--the day before we left home," answered the smaller member of the club, in a whisper.

"We found him half frozen, in the snow," said Whopper. "He says there is something the matter with his back."

The shelter gained, Shep and Giant were glad enough to go in and rest and so was Kiddy Leech. The tramp gazed around the cozy place with keen satisfaction.

"This is a bang-up bunk," he observed. "A fellow could stay here a long time and enjoy himself."

While the three newcomers rested, Giant and Snap bustled around and prepared them a substantial meal, with plenty of hot coffee, for the trip across the cove had been a cold one and they wanted something for "thawing out purposes," as Shep said. Kiddy Leech was not backward in eating a big meal, was.h.i.+ng it down with all the coffee offered him.

"Coffee is the next thing to liquor for warming a fellow," he observed.

"We think it is far better," answered Snap. "We carry no liquor of any kind, only a little alcohol for special purposes."

"Humph!"

After the meal Shep got out some liniments for the tramp, but he said he would try a good sleep first. He sought out a comfortable corner of the shelter, and in a very few minutes was snoring away l.u.s.tily.

"He certainly takes things easy," said the doctor's son.

"I believe he is thoroughly lazy, and a heavy drinker," answered Giant, and hit the nail squarely on the head.

"What are we to do with him?" questioned Snap. "We certainly don't want him to stay at this camp."

"Not much!" cried Whopper. "As soon as it clears off, we'll fix him up some provisions and start him on his way." And this was decided upon unanimously.

During the afternoon it cleared off to such an extent that Snap and Giant determined to go out for a short walk.

"Let us put on our snowshoes," said Giant. "It will give all of us a chance to get used to them."

Snap was willing, and soon the boys had fastened on their snowshoes, which were long and narrow and first-cla.s.s in every particular. Both had worn snowshoes before, but not sufficiently to feel thoroughly at home on them.

"Come on!" shouted Giant, who was the first ready, and off he started in fine style, and soon Snap came after them. Shep and Whopper watched them depart and then returned to the shelter, feeling still too tired out to do, more than sit around and take it easy.

Snap and Giant walked on through the woods until they came to a place that showed quite a cleared spot.

"Come on--I'll race you!" cried the smaller lad, and away he went as fast as he could on his snowshoes, and Snap came after him.

The two boys thought they were going over a level sheet of snow, but it was down grade and soon they struck a small hollow. Over went Giant on his face into the snow below, and an instant later Snap followed.

"Whow!" spluttered the small youth, when he could make a sound. His nose and mouth were filled with snow, and some was also down his sleeve. "I say, this isn't so pleasant, Snap."

"Pleasant! I should say not, Giant. Ugh! but this snow is cold!"

"I can't get up!"

"We'll have to do the best we can."

With a great effort, Snap managed to rise to his feet again and then he went to Giant's a.s.sistance. After that the two boys were careful how they stepped out and so got along fairly well.

"I don't think I'd care to travel more than a mile or two on snowshoes," remarked Giant, as they turned back towards the Inn. "It is too tiring on the ankles."

When the two lads arrived at the shelter they were tired out and glad enough to take off the snowshoes and hang them up. Shep and Whopper wanted to know how it had felt to walk on snowshoes and they related their experience.

"We'll all have to go out to-morrow," said Whopper. "Just wait till you see me walk! I'll wager I'll walk ten miles with ease."

"Make it a hundred while you are at it," answered Shep. "I am not saying what I shall do."

"If we go out what is to be done with that fellow?" whispered Snap, pointing to the sleeping form of Kiddy Leech.

"I don't know," replied Whopper. "I don't like the idea of leaving him alone in camp."

When night came on they put some fresh logs on the fire and cooked another meal of venison steak. Then, later on, they sat around the blaze, talking and eating nuts and apples. The tramp slept on soundly and they left him where he was, even when they retired.

CHAPTER XIV

IN WHICH A TRAMP DISAPPEARS