Guns and Snowshoes; Or, the Winter Outing of the Young Hunters Part 21

Without further words the four boy hunters started to cross Firefly Lake, stepping as much as possible on the portions that did not look extra slippery. Yet more than one went down with a thump, and this delayed them not a little.

"Where are the deer?" queried Snap, when the other side of the lake was gained.

All looked around, and while one went up the sh.o.r.e, another went down, and then two hurried into the forest, which at this point was extra thick.

"Here are the tracks!" cried Snap, and began to run forward, with the others close at his heels.

But alas! the tracks soon came to an end, on a series of rocks which the wind had swept clear of snow. Beyond this point the ground was so uneven that progress was difficult.

The boys gazed around in perplexity. They had expected some easy shooting. Now the game was gone and they did not know where to look for it.

"May as well go back to camp," said Snap at last. "Remember, we left that tramp in full possession."

"Oh, let us look around a little longer," pleaded Giant.

To please the small member of the Gun Club, the others remained in that vicinity for quarter of an hour longer, looking in every possible direction for the deer. But the animals had made themselves scarce, and that was the end of it.

"Too bad!" sighed Whopper. "I thought we'd get a full dozen this time!"

They had stirred up absolutely nothing in the way of game, and so retraced their steps without firing a single shot. n.o.body felt in particularly good humor, and the walk back to camp was a rather silent one.

"Might better have kept at fis.h.i.+ng," grumbled Whopper.

"What did you get?" asked Shep, who had not taken time to look at the catch.

"Oh, we've got enough for several meals."

"That's good."

"I hooked one big fish, but he got away."

"The big fish always do," remarked Snap, significantly.

"Oh, I'm not exaggerating," growled Whopper.

When they came in sight of the camp it looked particularly lonely.

"It's a wonder Mr. Kiddy Leech didn't come out to welcome us,"

remarked Giant.

"He's too lazy," said Shep. "More than likely you'll find him snoring in front of the fire."

"He certainly is a lazy one," said Whopper. "We must clear him out right away."

They came up to the Inn and entered, to find the fire smouldering dimly. The tramp was nowhere to be seen.

"Hullo!" called Snap, but there was no response.

"Maybe he went out to find us," suggested Giant.

"Not much!" exclaimed Snap. "I don't like this," he went on.

"What, Snap?"

"Look around you and see what is missing."

"Missing!"

"That is what I said."

At these words all made a hasty examination of their belongings. Some underwear was gone, also a storm coat, and a number of other things.

The tramp had taken a game bag full of provisions, and the pair of skates belonging to Snap.

"He's a thief!" cried Giant.

"I wish I had my hands on him," muttered Snap.

"So do I," put in Whopper, to whom the storm coat belonged.

"We must go after him, and at once," came from Shep. "He must not be allowed to get away with the things he has taken!"

CHAPTER XV

SOMETHING OF A CHASE

"It is easy enough to say go after the tramp, but where are you going to find him?" said Whopper. "We went after those deer, but we didn't get any."

"If he put on the skates, he must have taken to the lake," answered Snap. "Anyway, I don't think it will hurt to look around."

"Somebody ought to stay at camp and watch things," said Shep.

"Whopper, will you do that?"

"Yes."

"Then you can lend your skates to me, while I go after Mr. Kiddy Leech," said Snap.

So it was arranged, and a few minutes later Snap, Shep and Giant set out to look for the tramp who had so unceremoniously disappeared.

"If he took to skating he most likely went down to Lake Cameron," said Snap. "From there he could get to the river and go wherever he pleased."

Once on the ice the three boys skated around on the lake until they saw other skate marks. These they began to follow and soon saw that they led down towards the neck that connected Firefly Lake with Lake Cameron.

"I believe he did not imagine we'd get back so soon," said Giant. "He reckoned on getting over Lake Cameron to the river before we could spot him."