Guns And Snowshoes

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"Well, if we have got to seek shelter, this place may prove as good as
any," observed Whopper. "It's warmer under the rocks, and we can use
some of these tree branches for a fire."

"Yes, we must have a fire," answered the doctor's son, who did not
relish the darkness. He wondered what they would be able to do should
wolves attack them, but did not mention this to his companion.

Dropping their load in the snow, they felt their way between the
trees, and then broke off some of the small branches for firewood.
They got the driest they could find.

"Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" came suddenly from Whopper.

"What's up?"

"I haven't a single match! Have you any?"

In haste Shep felt in his pocket. There were two matches there, but
one felt as if it was no good.

"I've got two, but one feels as if the top was off," he announced.

"For gracious sake, don't let the good one go out, Shep! Here, I've
got an old letter in my pocket. Light that first."

The doctor's son felt in his other pockets and brought forth part of
an old railroad timetable. The papers were bunched together and held
low, while Shep tried to strike the match that had lost part of its
head. It made a faint streak of light, but that was all.

"Is that the good one?" asked Whopper, hoarsely. Never before had he
been so anxious about a light.

"No. I'll try the good one now," answered the doctor's son.

"Don't let the wind blow it out," pleaded his chum. "Here, use my
cap."

The papers were placed beside the cap, and Shep struck the match
several times. Both of the boys hardly dared to breathe. Then came a
flash, and a tiny flame sprang up, and the papers were set to blazing.
They put on the smallest and driest of the twigs and then the small
branches, and both tended the fire with as much care as an infant
receives from its nurse. Soon it became stronger and stronger, and
they breathed a deep sigh of relief and put on some big pieces of
wood.

As Snap had said at camp, the fire brightened things up wonderfully
and both boys felt lighter-hearted as the ruddy glare lit up the
scene. They found something of a circular hollow under the cliff with
a big fallen tree just beyond it. They brought the fire to one side of
this hollow, and banked up the snow on the other side, and soon the
shelter began to grow warm. Then they brought in the deer and hung the
game in a fork of the fallen tree.

"Lucky we brought that lunch along," said Shep. "I am as hungry as a
bear."

"So am I," returned Whopper, "and I don't think that little lunch is
going to satisfy me. What's the matter with broiling a venison
streak?"

"Do you want to cut up the deer before we get back to camp?"

"Most likely we'll have to. If this snow keeps on there is no telling
how long we'll be snowbound."

"That is true, too. Well, we needn't cut up the whole deer--only cut
out what we want to use."

CHAPTER XII

A CRY FOR HELP

Fortunately for the boys, they knew how to cut up a deer to advantage
and it did not take them long to trim away a portion of the pelt and
get out the steak they wanted. Then they fixed up a rude fork on which
to cook the meat, and soon the appetizing odor of broiled venison
filled the hollow.

"This is much better than nothing but a cold lunch," said Whopper, as
he divided the steak. "Fingers were made before knives and forks, and
as nobody is looking on, we can eat as suits us."

"Let us broil another steak, before the fire gets low," suggested the
doctor's son. "If it goes out on us we won't want to be without
something to eat?"

"That fire isn't going out--not if I know it. Why, it would be awful
to be left without a light, and without warmth. We might freeze to
death--if it got much colder!"

Another and larger steak was well cooked, and then the boys set to
work to gather a generous supply of firewood, breaking and cutting it
as best they could. This was hard work, but it kept them warm, and
neither complained.

"I suppose Snap and Giant are worrying about our not getting back,"
said Whopper. "I hope they don't come out to look for us."

After they had cut all the wood they wanted, they sat down again by
the fire. Both boys were very tired, yet the strangeness of their
situation kept them awake for several hours. They watched the snow, as
it came down as thickly as ever, and listened to the shrieking of the
wind as it tore through the trees on the top of the cliff.

"Do you think more of the trees will come down?" questioned Whopper.

"I am sure I don't know," was Shep's reply.

At last both boys began to blink and stretch themselves, and then
Whopper said they had better go to sleep.

"You turn in first," said Shep. "I'll watch the fire. When I can't
keep awake any longer, I'll call you."

Whopper laid down and was soon slumbering. Shep continued to guard the
fire, and, to keep himself awake, walked up and down the narrow
confines of the temporary shelter. He often paused to listen to the
roaring of the wind, which, outside of the crackling of the blaze, was
the only sound that broke the stillness.

"Well, I am glad no wild animal has come to disturb us," he thought,
as he continued to pace up and down.

Presently he sat down and his eyes closed. For a moment he dozed, and
then started up. A low moan had reached his ears.

"What in the world is that?" he asked himself, and felt his hair
standing on end. Then he heard the moan again, and turning half
around, began to grin to himself. The moan had come from Whopper, who
was having a nightmare.

"Hi, Whopper! Wake up!" he called, and shook his companion.

"Get out--don't chew me up!" groaned Whopper, and then sat up and
rubbed his eyes. "Wha--what's the matter? Oh, I--er--I guess I was
dreaming," he said sheepishly.

"You were, and groaning fit to raise the dead," answered the doctor's
son, who now felt that he could afford to laugh.

"I dreampt about a million wolves were after me, and one was going to
chew my foot off," said Whopper. He stretched himself. "Time for me to
stand guard?"

"I think you had better. I am so tired I feel like sleeping standing
up," answered Shep.

Whopper arose, and waiting to make certain that his companion was wide
awake, Shep threw himself on the couch, which had been formed of some
leaves found at the rear of the hollow. He soon fell into a troubled
sleep, which lasted about three hours, when he awoke at the sound of
Whopper's voice calling him.

"Is it time to get up?" he questioned, sleepily.

"Shep, I hear wolves!"

"Wolves!" and now the doctor's son leaped to his feet and glanced
toward his shotgun, which rested against the rocky wall. "Are you
certain?"

"Listen!"

Both boys bent their ears and for a full minute neither made a sound.
Then Shep shook his head.

"I can't hear anything now," he said.

"Well, I heard them before," answered Whopper, positively. "Must have
been a million of 'em, too!"

"Whopper, you've got a million wolves on the brain."

"Have I? Well, I know--Listen!"

The young hunter stopped short, and both listened a second time. From
a great distance came the howl of a wolf, followed by an answering
howl not so far off.

"Now, what did I tell you!"

Shep did not answer, but picked up his shotgun. Whopper had already
gotten the rifle, and with the firearms fully loaded the young hunters
stood on guard for at least a quarter of an hour.

"I don't hear them any more," said the doctor's son, at length.

"They may be sneaking up on the sly," answered Whopper, and it was
hard for him to keep his voice from trembling.

Neither of the boys cared to go beyond the light of the camp-fire, and
again they waited. But a good half hour went by and nothing more was
seen or heard of the wolves.

"You may as well take another nap, Whopper," said the doctor's son.
"I'll give you about two hours, and then I'll lie down for the same
length of time. That will about finish out the night."

Whopper agreed to this, but it was some time before he could get to
sleep, and then he had another nightmare and groaned as before. But
this time Shep "let him have it out," as he told Whopper afterward.

Daylight found them still under the cliff. Their fitful naps of the
night just passed had only about half rested them and they did a good
deal of gaping as they stirred up the fire and prepared a morning
meal. Fortunately Shep had a pocket cup with him, and in that they had
to melt snow to get water to drink.

"Well, I am glad the night is over," declared Whopper. "I declare, I
don't want to pass another like it!"

"Let us be thankful that it was no worse," answered the doctor's son.
"Supposing we had not found this shelter, or supposing that match had
gone out, or supposing we hadn't shot the deer--"

"Stop, Shep! I am blue enough already. I'll tell you what it is: By
hook or by crook, we must get back to camp before to-night. If we
don't the others will be worried to death about us, I am sure."

"That's easy enough to say. But look at the snow."

Whopper looked beyond the shelter. The snow had stopped coming down
but it lay to the depth of several inches in some spots and in drifts
three and four feet high in others. He gave a sigh.

"Tough traveling and no mistake. Maybe we can't get through at all!"

"I know what I am going to do, first of all," said Shep. "I am going
to climb a tree on the top of the cliff and locate myself."

"That's a good idea."

Breakfast over, both boys scrambled up one of the fallen trees to the
top of the cliff. Not far away was a tree with low branches and up
this went the doctor's son, Whopper boosting him all he could. All the
boys could climb well, and soon Shep was far enough up to look around
on all sides.

"There is the lake, about three-quarters of a mile off," he said,
pointing with his hand. "I can see our camp, too. The smoke is coming
up out of the chimney."

"Is it on the other side of the lake?"

"It is across the big cove."

"Do you think we can signal to the others?" questioned Whopper.

"We might try it--with some wet wood," answered Shep.

He came down again, and soon they placed several wet sticks on the
fire. This created a dense smoke, which, as the wind had fallen, went
straight up into the sky.

"That will tell them somebody is over here with a fire," said Shep.
"But I reckon we had better start for the camp without delay. Just
past the cliff is a ridge of high ground running almost to the lake,
and the wind has swept it clear of snow, so walking will not be so
very difficult."

It gave them something of a pang to put out the fire, yet they did not
dare to leave it burning, for fear of setting fire to the forest.
Placing the deer on the pole as before, they set off toward the ridge
Shep had mentioned.

With the going down of the wind, the air seemed warmer. The sky was
still dull and heavy, and they were afraid it might snow again at any
moment. Where the footing was good they almost ran, so eager were they
to get back to Birch Tree Inn.

They had almost gained the shore of Firefly Lake when Whopper came to
a halt. At the same time a distant cry reached the ears of both young
hunters.

"What was that?" asked Whopper.

"Somebody calling for help, Whopper. Listen!"

"Help! help!" came faintly to their ears.

"Don't leave me, please! Help!"

"It's some person calling," said Shep. "But where is he?"

Both boys gazed around in perplexity. Then the cry was repeated, and
following the sound they made their way to some brushwood growing
between several trees. Here they found a man crouched before a tiny
fire. He was dressed in a tattered suit and an even more tattered
overcoat, and his shoes were bound up in potato sacking. A slouch hat
full of holes was drawn down over his forehead, and he looked to be
exactly what he was, a tramp.

"What's the matter?" asked Shep, not unkindly, for the fellow was
evidently suffering.

"Don't leave me," cried the man. "I'm sick and I'm hungry, and I
nearly froze to death last night. Please don't leave me!"

"Have you had anything to eat?" asked Whopper.

"Not a mouthful since yesterday noon. I had some stuff wrapped in a
newspaper, but I lost it in the snow." The man did not add that he had
been intoxicated and had not known where he was going or what he was
doing.

"Well, here is a piece of venison steak and some crackers," said Shep.
"That's all we can give you just now."

"Ain't you got anything to drink?" asked the man, wistfully.

"No, we don't carry liquor."

"Oh!"

"We can get you some water if you want that," put in Whopper.

"What?"

Whopper repeated his words.

"No, I don't want any cold water--I'm cold enough now," said the
tramp.

CHAPTER XIII

IN CAMP ONCE MORE

The boys imagined the man was not well and they dropped their game and
set to work to get breakfast for him. They took the venison steak and
warmed it up, and also warmed the few crackers which still remained
from the lunch. The man ate greedily, and then consented to drink a
little water.

"Where are you going?" he asked, while eating the last of the venison.
They had found out that, in spite of being a tramp, he was fairly well
spoken. Evidently drink had brought him down in the world.

"We are bound for our camp," answered Whopper.

"Oh, so you've got a camp around here?"

"We have one on the other side of the cove--over yonder, where you can
see the smoke drifting above the trees."

"I wish you'd take me over to it, boys. I can't stay here--I feel too
sick."

"What's the matter with you?"

"I don't know--only I get sharp, shooting pains now and then across my
back."

Whopper and Shep looked at each other. They had no desire for the
companionship of such a disreputable looking person, yet they did not
wish to see the tramp suffer.

"What's your name?" questioned Whopper. "And where do you belong?"

"My real name is Kidlaw Leech, but most of my friends call me Kiddy
for short. I came from--er--New York, but I have been up to Fairview
and other places looking for work. Yesterday I started to walk to the
next town, but I reckon I got lost on the road, and I fetched up
here."

"You must have tramped a good distance," answered the doctor's son. He
was far from being favorably impressed by the tramp.

"I did," answered Kiddy Leech. "But, say, you'll help me to your camp,
won't you?"

"Yes. I have some medicines over there, and one of them may do you
good. I'm a doctor's son."

"Got any liquor? That's the best medicine for my back."

"No, but I can give you some peppermint and some ginger."

Again the tramp's face fell. He got up slowly and prepared to
accompany the boys. There was nothing more to say, and kicking out the
fire, the young hunters told Kiddy Leech to follow them. He came
slowly, and caught hold off Shep's arm to steady himself. His breath
still smelt of liquor, something that disgusted both lads.

The ice reached, Shep and Whopper cut a long bush and on it placed the
deer.

"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 shore 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, washing 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 lustily.

"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-class 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 assistance. 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

"I know what I am going to do to-day," said Giant, on the following
morning. "I am going fishing through a hole in the ice. I am just
hungry for a bit of fresh fish for breakfast."

"I want to fish myself," answered Whopper. "If you don't mind, I'll go
with you."

Snap beckoned his chums to the outside of the shelter. The tramp still
lay on his couch but was awake.

"Let us take turns at fishing," said the leader of the Gun Club, in a
low tone. "Two can fish and two watch the tramp,--until he clears
out."

"Let us give him a hint that he is not wanted here," suggested Shep.

"Will you give him the hint?" asked Giant.

"Certainly--I am not afraid."

They prepared breakfast, and when they were ready to sit down and eat
the tramp arose and stretched himself lazily.

"That smell good," he said. "Reckon you've got some for me, eh?"

"Yes, you can have your share," answered Shep. "After breakfast we'll
give you some lunch in a paper bag and then you can be on your way."

"What, going to throw me out in such weather as this?" cried the man,
reproachfully.

"The weather is all right to-day," put in Snap.

"My back hurts a good deal."

"I guess you are able to walk. We'll give you plenty of lunch, so you
won't starve."

"It's hard lines on a fellow who hasn't a cent to his name," whined
the tramp. His manhood had evidently deserted him completely.

The young hunters looked at each other questioningly. They did not
want to be hard on anybody who was in distress. Snap put his hand in
his pocket.

"I'll give you a quarter," he said, and passed over the silver coin.

"So will I," added Shep. And then Giant and Whopper also handed over
twenty-five cents each, making a dollar in all.

"Much obliged," said Kiddy Leech, pocketing the silver with
satisfaction. "But if you don't mind, I won't start out until about
noon time. By then I reckon my back will I feel better."

"Very well, make it noon then," said Snap. Giant and Whopper were soon
down on the ice. They took with them their fishing outfits and an axe.

"I've got an idea we'll find pretty good fishing around yonder bend of
the shore," said Giant, pointing with his hand.

Reaching a spot that looked favorable to them, they threw down their
fishing outfits and began to cut two holes in the ice, about fifty
feet apart. Cutting the ice was no light task, and they took turns
until they had each hole about a foot in diameter.

"Now then to bait up," said Giant.

He had prepared himself for this by cutting out certain portions of
the deer meat and small patches of the skin. He soon had his line in
trim for use, and with the aid of a light sinker allowed it to sink
close to the bottom of the lake.

Whopper was using some bait brought from home, something Jed Sanborn
had said might be effective in luring the finny tribe. The two boys
stood by the holes patiently, waiting for a bite.

Fully five minutes passed and Giant felt a small nibble. He pulled the
bait around a bit and then felt a sudden tug. Up came his line with a
rush, and out on the ice flopped a pickerel of fair size.

"Hurrah! first haul!" sang out the small member of the Gun Club,
proudly. "Who says we can't catch something?"

After that came another spell of silence and then Whopper gave a yank
on his line. Up came a good sized fish, but as it fell on the ice it
broke loose from the hook and flopped back into the water with a
splash that covered Whopper with the icy drops.

"Oh, hang the luck!" gasped Whopper. "He got away and gave me a shower
bath in the bargain."

"Wish I could get a maskalonge," said Giant. Do you remember the big
one I caught last summer?"

"Indeed I do," answered Whopper. "And I remember how the fish pulled
you overboard and nearly drowned you."

They continued to fish and presently Whopper got another bite and
brought up a good-sized pickerel, of a variety that is known to many
as a lake trout. Then both boys got a second and a third bite, and
inside of an hour had a fair mess of fish to their credit.

In the meantime Snap and Shep remained near the shelter, fixing up a
number of things. Shep made a fresh batch of bread dough and also
prepared a pot of beans and baked a plain cake. He likewise tried his
hand at an apple pie, but the crust was not right, and later on, when
the pie was tested, Whopper said the "lid" might do for a shingle but
not for eating. The cake, however, turned out well, and all of the
young hunters praised it.

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