Soon the boys were seated around the big square table the living room
contained enjoying themselves to their hearts' content. The steaming
chocolate and the things to eat put them in the best possible humor, and
their troubles with Bill Glutts and Gabe Werner, and also with the
wildcat and on the road, were, for the time being, forgotten. Outside
the wind was rising, making a mournful sound as it swept through the
cedars and the other trees in that vicinity. But inside the fire
crackled merrily and the heat of the fitful flames as they roared up the
chimney filled the lads with satisfaction.

"We sure had a tough time getting here," declared Randy, "but it was
worth it."

"Isn't this just peachy!" cried his twin, as, with a final doughnut in
hand, he sank deep in a rocking chair at one side of the fireplace.
"This suits me right down to the tips of my toes."

"I should think it would suit anybody," declared Spouter. "Why, this
whole surroundings has the most artistic setting I ever beheld. Just
think of this rustic bungalow nestling away in the midst of this
gigantic forest, and think of this deep-throated fireplace with the
flames soaring upward, casting their flickering shadows hither and
thither over the bright faces--"

"Of six well fed and sleepy young fellows who ought to be in bed this
minute," broke in Jack. "I move we adjourn for the night and let Spouter
finish his oration in the morning."

"That's it! Always cutting me short when I have some beautiful
sentiments to express," grumbled the would-be orator. "Never mind, I'll
get square with you some day."

"Never mind, Spout. Don't take it too hard," broke in Andy. "Remember
that even slipping down on a banana peel is a good deal of a skin game."

"To bed it is," announced Gif. "Unless, of course, Andy and Fred want to
remain up to wash the dishes."

"Nothing doing," yawned Fred. "I could go to sleep sitting in this
chair. I'll wash the dishes to-morrow morning before breakfast."

It was decided that the twins should occupy one of the rooms with a
double bed. Gif and Spouter took the other double bed, and Fred and Jack
went into one of the rooms containing two single beds.

"We'll keep the fourth room for possible visitors," announced Gif. "You
know, Glutts and Werner may call on us," he added quizzically.

"Of course they'll call--when they are invited!" declared Jack. "Not but
what it's your house, Gif," he added quickly.

"They'll never come here on my invitation," was the ready response.

Their previous experience in camping out stood the six cadets in good
stead, and they knew exactly how to leave their fire so that it would
keep burning until morning without doing any damage. Then, one after
another, they speedily shoved off to bed and soon all of them were
slumbering peacefully after a long and arduous day's traveling.

In the morning Jack was the first to arise and he was speedily followed
by Gif and Spouter.

"Might as well let the others sleep for a while," said the oldest Rover
boy. "They were pretty well tired out, Fred and Andy especially."

"Sure, let 'em sleep as long as they want to. Our time is our own, and
there is no use in hurrying. Just the same, I bet Fred wakes up pretty
quick when he smells boiling coffee and pancakes."

Some pancake flour had been brought along, and soon the appetizing odor
of the cakes, along with the odor of steaming coffee, filled the Lodge.
Then came a call from one of the bedrooms, and, sure enough, it was Fred
speaking.

"Hi there! don't you eat all those good things up before I get there,"
he called out. "Say! this air certainly gives a fellow an appetite."

By the time breakfast was ready all of the boys were dressed. Jack and
Spouter had gone outside for more wood, and they reported that it had
begun to snow hard.

"All right, let it snow," said Randy. "Now that we are here, what do we
care?"

"Well, we don't want to get snowed in," remarked Spouter.

"Oh, I don't think the storm will be as bad as that," returned Gif.
"Just the same, I'm glad we didn't get caught last night in a downfall.
We might have had worse luck than ever in getting here."

By the time breakfast was finished it was snowing heavily. There was a
fairly strong wind blowing, and this sent the fine particles flying in
all directions. When they went out to feed the horses they found the
snow already an inch or more in depth.

"I think this is going to add quite a little to what is already on the
ground," said Jack. "If it keeps on for any length of time it will make
hunting rather difficult."

"Why can't we go out and do some hunting before the storm gets too bad?"
questioned Fred. Now that he had reached the Lodge he was exceedingly
anxious to try his skill with a gun.

"When I was here before there was quite a rabbit run on the other side
of the cedars behind this bungalow," declared Gif. "It isn't a long way
off. We could easily go that distance even through the snow."

"There wouldn't be any chance of our losing our way?" queried Spouter.

"Oh, no. It's not far enough off for that."

"Then let's go before the storm gets any worse," cried Andy.

"Yes, but how about the dishes to be washed?" asked Gif.

"Oh, Gif, can't we do them just as soon as we get back?" questioned
Fred.

"Last night's dishes are still standing in the kitchen," declared Jack,
looking somewhat sternly at his cousins.

"We'll get at them the minute we get back from our hunt for rabbits!"
exclaimed Fred. "Won't we, Andy?"

"That's a contract," declared the fun-loving Rover.

"All right then, see that you keep your word," answered Jack. "Remember,
Gif, no more grub for anybody until the dishes are washed."

"It's too bad we didn't bring some wooden dishes with us," remarked
Randy. "Then, after we had used them, we could put 'em in the fire."

"Lazybones!" called out Spouter. "You are as bad as the tramp who said
he didn't care to eat prunes because it was such a job to spit out the
pits;" and at this there was a general smile.

A little later the boys were ready for their first hunt. They had
discarded their overcoats for a number of hunting jackets of which the
bungalow boasted, and had also donned leggings and caps. Each looked to
see that his weapon was in first-class order and that he had a
sufficient supply of ammunition.

"We'll take only the shotguns along," said Gif. "You won't find any big
game in this immediate vicinity."

Fixing the fire so that it would keep until they returned, they locked
up and then started away. The snow was still coming down steadily, and
they were glad when they reached the shelter of the woods.

"You don't suppose Jed Wallop will come here during our absence?"
questioned Jack.

"If he does he'll know what to do," answered Gif. "He knows where the
key to the bungalow is, and I left a note for him in the stable, stating
that if he wanted to take the team away he could do so. He usually keeps
the horses up at his place, which is about half a mile from here."

Forward they trudged along a narrow trail leading through the woods. Gif
was at the front, with Spouter and Jack close behind and the others
following. Feeling that the rabbits might be on the alert, they relapsed
into silence, making practically no noise as they advanced.

They had covered a distance of several hundred feet when Jack, happening
to glance overhead, saw something that interested him very much. A flock
of wild ducks was circling about, and he pointed them out to Gif.

"I have often seen 'em around here," whispered Gif. "But you'd have to
go a long distance to get 'em unless you could shoot 'em on the wing.
They never settle down in the vicinity of the bungalow."

"Some day I'm going to take a crack at them," said Jack. "That is, if
they fly low enough."

Presently Gif slowed his pace and motioned for the others to do
likewise. They had come out to where there was a small clearing. Here
all gazed around sharply, trying to find some trace of the rabbit run
Gif had mentioned.

"I see one!" exclaimed Spouter presently. "See him? Over yonder," and he
pointed with his hand.

"Yes! And there is another!" answered Jack.

"I see four or five of them," put in Gif.

"Oh, say! there is our chance," ejaculated Fred excitedly. "Let's get
busy at once," and he made as if to raise his shotgun.

"Don't fire yet," cautioned Jack. "We're not close enough."

"Come on! I'll show you a place where we'll have a good chance to get at
those rabbits," said Gif. "Come, follow me."




CHAPTER XV

A CRY FOR HELP


Making as little noise as possible, the other lads followed Gif back
into the woods and then along a snow-laden trail skirting the clearing.

Less than two minutes' walk brought the young hunters to a spot where
were located a series of rough rocks, and here Gif motioned for his
companions to halt.

"I think you will find the rabbits in the hollow just on the other side
of these rocks," he whispered. "Now get you guns ready before you show
yourselves."

Slowly and cautiously they mounted the rocks and then lay down in the
snow on top. They peered into the hollow below, and presently made out
the forms of at least a dozen rabbits running to and fro, evidently
trying to find something among the trees and bushes opposite that would
be fit to eat.

"We might as well fire all at the same time," said Jack. "Because after
the first shot those bunnies will do their best to get to cover."

It was quickly decided that some of the hunters should shoot at the
rabbits directly ahead, while others were to shoot at those to the right
or to the left.

It must be admitted that Fred and Andy were trembling with excitement,
and Randy was also agitated. The others were quite calm, or else they
did not allow their real feelings to show. It was decided that Jack
should give the order to fire.

"All right," said the oldest Rover boy. "Now take aim, and when I say
three, shoot."

There were several seconds of silence during which all of the young
hunters got in readiness to shoot. Then, while they were still aiming
their weapons, one of the rabbits suddenly stopped running around and
sat upright, directly facing them, with his long ears pointed skyward.

"Quick!" exclaimed Jack excitedly. "They see us! One--two--three! Fire!"

The six shotguns spoke almost as one piece, and as the reports echoed
across the clearing and through the woods, several of the rabbits were
seen to leap into the air and then fall back lifeless. Several others
were seriously wounded, and these were speedily put out of their misery
by a second shot from Gif and Spouter.

"Hurrah! Seven rabbits!" exclaimed Fred, running forward. "That's what I
call a pretty good start."

"Come on, let us go after the others! Leave these where they are," cried
Jack, and plunged into the wood where he had seen several of the rabbits
seeking refuge. He managed to bring down one of them, and Randy brought
down another. The others got away.

"Nine rabbits is by no means a bad haul," was Gif's comment, after the
boys had brought the dead game together.

"Enough for a splendid potpie, and then some," came from Spouter.

"Do you suppose we can get any more?" exclaimed Andy. He was quite
certain he had brought down one of the bunnies.

"We can try, Andy," answered Gif. "It isn't late yet, and the snow isn't
so deep but what it might be deeper."

Having divided the rabbits between them, so that each lad might carry
some of the game, they moved forward, across the little clearing, and
then through the woods for the best part of a quarter of a mile. During
that time they saw several squirrels, but were unable to get a shot at
the frisky animals.

"A squirrel is as quick as they make 'em," declared Gif. "You've got to
act like lightning to catch 'em."

By this time it was snowing so heavily that all concluded it would be a
wise move to return to Cedar Lodge. The wind was rising, shaking the
tops of the trees violently and causing a strange moaning sound through
the thickets which was anything but pleasant.

"I'd hate to be caught out here all alone and in the darkness," remarked
Randy to Fred, as they trudged along.

"Would give a fellow the creeps, wouldn't it?" was the reply.

As they continued on their way they kept their eyes wide open for the
possible appearance of more game. But no animals showed themselves, nor
did they see any birds circling through the snow, which seemed every
moment to be coming down thicker than ever.

"If this snow continues and the wind keeps on rising, we'll have a
regular blizzard before morning," announced Gif.

"Don't say a word about the wind," panted Andy, who had dropped a few
paces behind, "My nose and my ears are almost frozen."

"Well, thank goodness, Andy, we're not very far from the Lodge. You'll
soon be able to warm up."

They were still deep in the woods when from a distance they heard a
peculiar whistle twice repeated.

"That's Jed Wallop's whistle," announced Gif. "He must have just come
in."

He whistled in return, and presently they came out at a point where the
cedars fringed the clearing in the midst of which was located the
bungalow. They saw Jed Wallop standing outside the little stable and
waved their hands to him, and he waved in return.

"Thought you might have gone out huntin'," announced Wallop, when they
came up. "Had some luck, too, I see."

"Nine rabbits," said Fred, a bit proudly.

"Good enough! I guess that means some good, old-fashioned rabbit stew
to-night," and Jed Wallop grinned.

He had not seen Gif's note, and so the lads explained the situation, to
which the man listened with much concern.

"Well, by gum! what do you know about that?" he ejaculated. "I certain
did mix it when I give you them directions. I might o' told you about
turnin' to the left when it come to the road past this lodge. You see, I
got all twisted up in my mind as soon as I heard about my cousin, Tim
Doolittle, bein' hurt."

"That's just the way I figured it, Jed," answered Gif. "However, as we
got here at last it doesn't matter."

"Goin' to have a pretty good fall o' snow, boys;" and Jed Wallop looked
anxiously at the sky.

"Do you think we shall be snowed in?" questioned Randy.

"Might be--if the storm keeps up long enough. But you got plenty o'
provisions, ain't you?"

"Oh, we've got enough to last us for a week or ten days," answered Gif.

"Then I guess you'll be all right. But say! maybe you fellers would like
me to stay here with you?" continued Jed Wallop. "Not but wot you're big
enough to take care of yourselves."

"We'll get along all right, Jed. Don't worry," answered Gif.

"Then I'll be a-takin' the team and gettin' over to my own place,"
announced the man. "And I won't lose no time, nuther. I don't want to
git stuck on the road with Mary and John. They are a purty good team,
but they are apt to loose heart if the wind gits to blowin' too strong
agin 'em."

"How is your cousin getting along?" questioned Jack kindly.

"Oh, he's a-doin' tolerable. I took him over to our Uncle Joe's, you
know, and the women folks over there will give him the best o' care."

The boys assisted Jed Wallop to hook up the team to the boxsled, and in
a few minutes more the man was off with a crack of his whip, which sent
the team away at a fairly respectable pace.

"Now, have a good time!" he called back to the boys. "And don't shoot
all the game in the State."

"When will you be back?" sang out Spouter.

"In a few days. If you want me before that time give the signal;" for it
had been arranged that when the boys wanted Jed Wallop to come over from
where he lived they were to shoot a gun two times twice in succession.

"He won't have any sweet job of it getting to his place," announced
Fred.

"Fortunately, it isn't a great distance off," answered Gif. "If he had
several miles to go, I doubt if he would be able to make it."

Shutting up the stable and loading their arms with firewood from the
shed, the six cadets made their way into the Lodge. When they opened the
door the wind rushed in, causing the sparks and the ashes from the
smouldering fire to fly in all directions.

"Shut that door!" Gif cried quickly. "My, how that wind is rising!"

"Maybe it'll blow the bungalow over," remarked Randy.

"Oh, I don't believe it will get as bad as all that, Randy," said Jack.
"This looks as if it was a pretty substantial building."

"You're right," came from Gif. "Those logs are good and heavy, and they
were put together by some of the best workmen around here. This house
won't go down unless the woods go down with it. But I am mighty glad we
are under shelter where we can take it comfortable."

"Do you know what I think?" said Fred. "I think we ought to bring in
more of that firewood. There is no telling if we'll be able to get any
of it by morning if this snow keeps coming down."

"A good idea, Fred," said Jack. "Let us go out at once and pile all the
wood we can in the entryway beside the kitchen."

Leaving Gif to stir up the fire so that the Lodge might get warm once
more, the others hurried out to the woodshed. They made four trips from
that place to the entryway beside the kitchen, each time bringing in all
the logs they could carry.

"There! that wood ought to last us for two or three days," declared
Jack, when the task was done.

"Now I know what I'm going to do," said Fred, as they re-entered the
main building.

"What's that?" queried Spouter.

"I'm going to get at those dishes."

"So are we!" declared Andy and Randy in a breath.

Water was heated, and it did not take long to dispose of the dirty
dishes. While the three boys were doing this, the others cleaned up the
living room of the bungalow, and also straightened out their beds. From
time to time all gazed out of the small-paned windows, to see that the
snow was coming down as thickly as ever.

"We're in for it, and no mistake," said Gif finally. "I don't think
we'll be able to do much hunting for a day or two."

"Well, that will give us a good chance to rest," declared Jack. "I don't
know but what I would just as lief take a nap after lunch. That tramp in
the wind after the rabbits made me sleepy."

All were rather tired, and as a consequence the lunch was an informal
affair, the boys warming up and opening a large can of pork and beans
and making themselves a large pot of steaming chocolate.

"We'll have dinner to-night," said Gif, and to this the others agreed.

Then they cleared the dishes away and took it easy, some resting in
front of the fire and others on the beds in the rooms.

"If it gets much colder we'll have to pull some of those beds out into
the living room and close the doors to the bedrooms," announced Gif. "I
remember we did that one time when I was up here."

By five o'clock the boys felt rested, and then began preparations for a
regular dinner. Several of the rabbits were cleaned and cooked, and they
also boiled some potatoes and onions. Then Gif and Jack prepared a pan
of biscuits and a pot of tea.

"Some day I'm going to take a few hours off and make some pies and
cakes," announced Randy. He had always had a great liking for desserts.

"Yes, and don't forget we're going to make some candy, too," added his
twin.

In the evening the boys read some magazines they had brought along, and
Jack and Spouter played checkers. Before retiring, they looked out of
the windows, to find that it was snowing and blowing just as furiously
as ever.

"It's going to be a wild night, believe me," announced Spouter. "I don't
believe there will be many people traveling around in this vicinity."

They retired as they had done the night before, and soon, despite the
whistling of the wind, all of the lads were sound asleep.

Suddenly Jack awakened with a start. How long he had been asleep he did
not know. He sat up quickly, for he realized that some sound from
without had awakened him.

"Help! Help!" came from outside the bungalow. "Help! Let us in! We're
freezing to death!"




CHAPTER XVI

UNDESIRABLE VISITORS


"Wake up, Fred! There is somebody at the door trying to get in!" called
out Jack, as the cry from outside was repeated.

"What's that? What's the matter?" came sleepily from the other Rover
boy.

From outside came a feeble kicking and pounding on the main door to the
Lodge. Two boys were calling piteously for assistance.

"Get up, everybody!" sang out Jack, as he jumped up and stuck his feet
into a pair of slippers which were handy.

His call and the noise from outside aroused Gif and Spouter, as well as
Fred, and soon the four cadets were hurrying into the living room. They
wore nothing but their pajamas, and slippers, but now each slipped
hastily into his overcoat.

"Who is it?" demanded Gif, for he had no desire to have the Lodge
overrun by a crowd of noisy and possibly half-drunken lumberjacks.

"It's us--Bill Glutts and Gabe Werner," was the faint reply. "Please
leave us in before we are frozen to death."

"Werner and Glutts!" ejaculated Fred. And now the continued noise
brought Andy and Randy on the scene.

"What can they be doing out here this time of night?" demanded Fred.

"Say, let us in, won't you?" came pleadingly in Gabe Werner's voice.
"You don't want to let us freeze to death, do you?"

"What brought you here this time of night?" demanded Jack.

"We're on our way to Tony Duval's place," answered Gabe Werner. "But the
storm is so fierce we couldn't get any further. Our horse is completely
winded."

"You are sure you are alone?" demanded Gif.

"Yes, yes! Please let us in. My nose and ears are frozen."

"And I don't know whether I've got any feet left or not," broke in Bill
Glutts piteously.

The main door to the bungalow had not only been locked, but also barred.
Now the door was unfastened, and Gif, with the others beside him,
allowed the portal to swing open a few inches.

A terrible scene met their eyes. The snow was piled up against the door
to the depth of two feet or more, and the wind was swirling the white
particles in all directions, so that the snow came into the living room
in a perfect cloud. In this mass of white stood Bill Glutts and Gabe
Werner, their heavy clothing covered with a ghost-like mantle. Behind
them was a one-seated sleigh drawn by a horse that looked ready to drop
from exhaustion.

"Come in," said Gif briefly.

No such invitation was needed, for as soon as the door was opened wide
enough Bill Glutts staggered into the living room, followed by his
crony. A swirl of snow followed them, and continued until Gif and Jack
managed to close the door once more.

"Gee! I'm all in," gasped Glutts, as he sank down on a chair close to
the smouldering fire.

"I thought we'd drop before we got you fellows up," added Werner. "You
sure are some sleepers," he grumbled, as he too sank down on a seat.

Ordinarily the Rovers and their chums would have treated these two
bullies with scant courtesy. But now Glutts and Werner appeared to be
suffering so much from the cold that they had not the heart to find
fault with their enemies.

"I'll stir up that fire a little," said Gif, and did so while Andy and
Randy went out into the entryway, to bring in some additional sticks of
wood.

"We can't leave that horse out there," remarked Jack. "He'll be frozen
to death."

"Well, I'm not going out to take care of him," declared Gabe Werner
quickly. "I wouldn't go out in that storm again for a thousand dollars."

"Neither would I," growled Glutts. "The nag can look after himself."

"That's a shameful way to treat any animal, Glutts," declared Gif. "But
as you fellows seem to be so exhausted, we'll look after him," he
continued.

"If you go out, Gif, I'll go with you," said Jack quickly. "But we had
better slip some of our clothing right over our pajamas. I'll bet it's
as cold as Greenland's icy mountains around that stable."

While the newcomers continued to make themselves comfortable before the
fire, and Spouter and Fred prepared a pot of hot tea for them to drink,
Gif and Jack hurried into their clothing and then went outside.

The blast that struck them as they hurried toward the exhausted horse
was terrific, and for the moment they thought they would have to turn
back and abandon the animal. But then they took another grip on
themselves, and finally managed to turn the horse in the direction of
the stable.

They saw that the sleigh was filled with provisions and other things,
and so managed to haul it under the shed where it would be partly
protected. Then they placed the horse in the stable, gave him a drink,
and likewise left some hay for him to chew on.

"We may not be able to get here in the morning," said Gif; "so we'll
leave him some supper and some breakfast at the same time."

"I don't much like the idea of Glutts and Werner loading down on us in
this fashion," remarked Jack, as the pair prepared to go back to the
Lodge.

"Like it!" exclaimed his chum. "I should say not! But what are we going
to do about it, Jack?"

"Oh, we'll have to make the best of it."

"If this storm keeps up we may have those fellows on our hands for some
days."

"Well, if they stay here that long they can pay their own way," declared
Jack. "They have some provisions in that sleigh, and there is no reason
why we should feed them for nothing. If we divide up our stuff they can
divide up theirs."

"It wouldn't be any more than fair."

"Where is this Tony Duval's place they mentioned?" continued the oldest
Rover boy.

"It's about two miles from here, off to the eastward--in fact, the road
on which this Lodge is located ends at Duval's place. He is a
French-Canadian, and he hasn't a very good reputation in these parts.
Some of the old hunters used to think Tony was a good deal of a
thief--that he would go around in the night or early morning and empty
their traps. He came from down east."

"What do you suppose Werner and Glutts are going to do there?"

"Of late years Duval has made a specialty of hiring out his place to
hunters. There are two or three shacks on his land, and he lets the
various crowds have those buildings, and then, if the hunters want it,
he cooks for them, for he is said to be quite a handy man with a
coffeepot and a frying pan. More than likely, from what you heard at the
moving picture theater, Gabe Werner has a chance to use one of those
shacks and has got Glutts to go with him."

"I wonder why Codfish isn't with them--he was at that restaurant in
Timminsport."

"I'm sure I don't know, except that Codfish may have got cold feet when
it came to traveling up this way in such a snowstorm. You know there is
nothing brave about that little sneak." And in this surmise Gif was
correct. Stowell had found a boarding place in the town and had said he
would remain there until the storm cleared away and the others returned
to get him.

In the meantime Glutts and Werner were seated at the living-room table
drinking the hot tea which had been prepared and eating some doughnuts
which Fred and Andy had offered. The bullies had become thawed out, and
their usual aggressiveness was beginning to assert itself.

"Of course we could have kept on until we got up to Tony's place; but
what was the use on such a wild night as this when we knew this place
was handy?" remarked Werner.

"I'm afraid you're going to be snowed in with us," said Spouter.

"Huh! I don't know as that will be very pleasant," grumbled Glutts.
"Have you fellows got enough for all hands to eat?" he demanded eagerly.

"We've got some provisions," answered Fred cautiously. "We shot nine
rabbits to-day," he added proudly.

"Nine rabbits!" exclaimed Werner. "How did you do it?"

"They must have driven the poor rabbits together in a bunch and then
slaughtered them," was Glutts' comment.

"We did not!" cried Fred.

"I'm sure we'll get all the rabbits we want when we reach Tony Duval's
place," continued Werner boastfully. "I believe hunting up there is much
better than it is around here."

"And they tell me Tony is one of the best guides in these parts," added
Glutts. "We expect to get a deer or two and a whole lot of other game."

"Say, have you fellows got a place where we can sleep?" questioned the
other bully, looking around the living room.

"There is a bedroom here that is not being used," answered Spouter. "But
you'll have to ask Gif about that. This bungalow, you know, belongs to
Mr. Garrison and his brother."

When Gif and Jack returned the situation was explained to them, and Gif
said that for the balance of the night the two newcomers could occupy
the bedroom which was not in use.

"And then we'll see what can be done to-morrow morning," he added.

"Of course we'll pay for our accommodations," said Werner, in his most
lordly manner.

"We don't want any pay, Werner," declared Gif. "But if you have to stay
here very long you'll have to divide your stores with us. It is quite a
task to get new stuff all the way from Timminsport; so if you've got
anything in the sleigh outside it won't be any more than fair for you to
divide with us."

"What did you do with the sleigh and the stuff?"

"We placed it under the shed next to the stable and covered your stuff
with a horse blanket. The snow is sifting in there some, but I don't
think anything will get hurt; unless, of course, you've got some stuff
that might freeze."

"Let it freeze," grumbled Glutts. "I'm not going out again, now I'm
comfortable here."

As there was no love lost between the newcomers and our friends, the
conversation languished after this. Gif showed Glutts and Werner where
they might sleep in the bedroom which had not been occupied, and gave
them the necessary bedding and some extra blankets. Then the pair shoved
off without even saying good-night and closed the door behind them.

"Real loving and thankful--I don't think," whispered Randy.

"I don't see why those fellows were wished on us," growled his twin.
"I'd just as lief have a skunk in the place as to have either of that
pair."

"Well, we couldn't leave them out in the storm to perish," answered
Jack, in a low tone; "so we'll have to make the best of it."

"Just the same," whispered Fred, "I'm going to keep my eyes and ears
wide open while they are here."




CHAPTER XVII

NEW YEAR'S DAY IN CAMP


When Randy and Andy retired it was a long while before the merry twins
could get to sleep again.

"We ought to play some good joke on them," was the way Andy expressed
it. "Something they would remember."

"I'd do it in a minute, Andy, if it wasn't that they are so worn out,"
responded his twin. "But I don't think Jack and Fred would like it at
all if we disturbed 'em. And, besides, you must remember that while we
are here we're Gif's guests."

Gif and Jack were the first to get up in the morning, and they had the
fire revived and breakfast underway before any of the others showed
themselves.

"Where are Glutts and Werner?" questioned Spouter, when he appeared.

"They haven't showed themselves yet, Spouter," answered Jack. "Might as
well let them sleep as long as they want to. They can't leave here in
such a storm as this."

The snow was still coming down and the wind was blowing almost as
fiercely as it had during the early part of the night. Gazing through
the windows, the cadets saw that all of the cedars were bent down with
the weight of the fine white crystals. The snow had swept up along one
side of the little barn until there was an unbroken line reaching up to
the very top.

"Well, I never!" ejaculated Jack, turning around suddenly to his chums.
"Happy New Year, everybody!"

"Happy New Year!" came from the others, including Fred and the twins,
who had just got up.

"Gosh! I forgot all about it's being New Year's," exclaimed Fred.

"This looks like a real New Year's Day, and no mistake," remarked Randy.
"Look outside! Isn't it just like a picture on a New Year's card?"

"It is assuredly a spectacle to fill one with awe and reverence," came
from Spouter. "Just gaze upon that magnificent stretch of snowy mantle
and those tall cedars bending low before the wintry blasts! Can you
imagine what this must be in the solemn depth of the mighty forest,
where not a footfall is heard nor a--"

"Jack rabbit can get as much as a turnip to eat?" finished Randy gayly.
"Spouter, if you are going to orate, why don't you stand on the table
when you turn on the spigot?"

"Let us have a regular New Year's dinner!" cried Gif, "and then Spouter
can do the speech-making--"

"While we do the eating," finished Randy. "Say, Spout, how about it?"

"Nothing doing," was the prompt reply. "I want my share of the eats
every time."

"We'll make a regular rabbit potpie to take the place of turkey,"
announced Gif.

"And for dessert, how about that canned plum pudding we brought along?"
queried Fred.

"Great thought, Fred!" answered Randy. "And we can have some of those
nuts, too. And to-night we'll try our hand at some candy making."

"One thing you fellows are forgetting," remarked Gif. "And that is that
we have Werner and Glutts with us. They'll certainly want their share of
the good things."

"What! Plum pudding and all?" questioned Fred, with a gloomy look
settling over his face.

"We can't deny them anything that we have ourselves, Fred," replied
Jack.

"I don't think Glutts or Werner deserve it!" exclaimed Randy. "I think
as soon as this storm clears away they ought to be sent about their
business. It isn't so very far to that Tony Duval's place, and with
their horse and sleigh they ought to be able to make it somehow."

Randy had scarcely finished speaking when the door to the bedroom the
two bullies occupied was flung open and Werner strode into the living
room.

"Fine way you have of talking about us, Rover!" he said, with a sour
look on his face. "We didn't come here because we wanted to. We came
because it was necessary."

"And we said we would pay for whatever we had to eat or drink," added
Glutts, who had followed his crony.

"I told you before that you wouldn't have to pay a cent," broke in Gif.
"Just the same, Glutts, we might as well come to an understanding. You
know as well as I do that there is no love lost between you fellows and
our crowd. You are welcome to stay here and have your dinner, and if you
think you can't get out to-day you can stay here for supper and sleep
here again to-night. By that time I think the storm will have cleared
away, and you will be able to get over to Tony's place without trouble."

"You can take it from me, we won't stay here an hour longer than we have
to," declared Werner. And then he turned back into the bedroom to finish
his dressing, closing the door behind him.

The presence of the two bullies put a good deal of a damper on our
friends, and as a consequence the breakfast was rather a silent one.
Then Gif suggested that Glutts and Werner go out and look after their
horse, and this they agreed to do.

"If you won't take any pay we'll stand for our share of the grub,"
announced Werner just before he went out. "We've got some goods in the
sleigh, as you know. What shall I bring in?"

"Bring in whatever you think is fair," said Gif, after a few whispered
words to Jack and Spouter.

The two bullies were gone the best part of an hour, and during that time
the Rovers and their chums cleaned several of the rabbits and also got
ready some potatoes and turnips for dinner.

"That will give us quite a meal, along with the dried lima beans that I
put to soak last night," said Gif. "Of course, we'll have the plum
pudding, well steamed, as Fred suggested."

"And we'll make a pan of biscuits, too," added Spouter. "Gee! by the
time we get through up here, fellows, we'll be able to get jobs as chefs
in some of the first-class New York hotels."

When Glutts and Werner returned they carried two packages which they
threw on the living-room table.

"There are some dried apricots and a package of rice," said Werner.
"They ought to help out for a New Year's dinner."

"Very well, we'll cook what we need for the meal, Werner," said Gif
briefly, "and the rest you can take with you."

Gif and Spouter made a small rice pudding, and also stewed some of the
apricots. All told, the New Year's dinner proved to be quite a bountiful
affair, and after all of the lads had eaten their fill, it must be
confessed that everybody felt in better humor. The plum pudding
especially came in for a large share of their attention, as well as did
the nuts and the small amount of raisins which followed.

"I think we'll go and take a nap," announced Werner presently. "I didn't
get very much sleep last night."

"And I'll do the same," added Glutts.

"What about washing those dishes?" remarked Fred, with a significant
look at the two bullies.

"That's right, Glutts and Werner!" cried Jack. "You ought to be willing
to do your share of the dish-washing."

"Me wash dishes!" roared Bill Glutts. "I never did anything like that in
my life!"

"You washed your own dishes at the encampment," answered Spouter
sharply.

"Oh, well, that was different."

"Oh, don't gas," grumbled Werner. "We'll wash our own dishes, anyway,"
and he went to work without another word, although with very bad grace,
and presently Glutts followed him.

Gif and the other boys also took hold, so the dish-washing and the pot
cleaning did not take very long.

The majority of the boys felt sleepy, so the rest of the day was spent
in taking it easy or in reading. Then, toward night, they had a light
supper, and Fred and the twins started to make some home-made candy.

By this time the storm had cleared away; no more snow was coming down
and the wind had also ceased. Overhead the stars glittered like so many
diamonds.

"It will be a great day to-morrow," announced Gif.

"Perhaps we can get out and get on the track of a deer!" cried Fred.

"Say, Fred, you must think the deer in this vicinity are standing around
just waiting to be shot," came from Jack, with a smile.

"I don't care, Jack. I'm going to get a crack at something worth while
before I go home," announced the youngest Rover.

Declining to partake of the taffy and the nut candy the twins and Fred
had made, Glutts and Werner retired early.

"We'll be going in the morning if the storm will permit it," said Werner
to Gif. And then he added curtly: "Much obliged for taking us in."

"Don't mention it, Werner," answered Gif, just as briefly.

"Remember, we'll pay you if you'll tell us how much it is," added
Glutts.

"You can't pay me anything, Glutts."

"Just as you say."

Then the door to the bedroom was closed as before, and Gif and his chums
were left to themselves.

"Some New Year's Day, believe me," was Fred's whispered comment. "The
presence of those fellows is about as cheering as a funeral."

Randy and Andy had their heads close together and were whispering.
Presently Randy got up and stretched himself.

"Now that it has stopped snowing I am going to go out and get a little
fresh air in my lungs," he remarked.

"And I'm going along," responded his twin quickly.

"So am I," broke in Fred.

"And that means we can wash the dishes," said Jack. "All right, there
are only a handful anyway. Go ahead, only don't walk too far and get
lost."

The three lads were soon outside, ploughing around through the deep
snow. Then Randy caught Fred by the arm.

"Come on down to the stable," he said. "Andy and I have a little
something up our sleeves."

"Just what I thought," chuckled Fred, "I bet you're planning to play
some trick on Glutts and Werner."

"Can you blame us?" demanded Andy.

"Certainly not. I'm with you. What do you propose to do?"

"We want to find out first what those fellows are carrying in the way of
provisions. Quite something, I imagine."

Reaching the stable, the three Rovers passed around one corner to where
was located the shed. Here they found the sleigh and its contents just
as it had been left by Glutts and Werner when they had procured the rice
and the apricots. Randy carried a flashlight, and this was turned on so
they might see what was stored there.

"A pretty complete lot of stuff," was Randy's comment, after they had
looked over the various bundles and packages, each one of which was
marked.

"Here is a bag of sugar and another bag of salt," announced Andy. "I
think the flavor of each will be vastly improved by mixing them up a
bit," and he grinned.

"And here's a bottle of vinegar and two bottles of catsup and maple
syrup," came from Randy. "I think a little mixing up here will help
matters also."

"Say, don't go too far!" cried Fred in alarm.

"Too far!" exclaimed Randy. "You couldn't go too far with Gabe Werner
and Bill Glutts! Just remember what they did to us at Colby Hall and at
the encampment. Both of those fellows are nothing but rascals. They
didn't deserve to be taken in."

After that Fred joined the twins in "doctoring up the provisions," as
Andy expressed it. The three had quite some fun doing this, and all
returned to the bungalow grinning broadly.

"There will be something doing when they start to use those stores,"
chuckled Andy. "My, won't Glutts and Werner be mad!"

"They won't know we did it," returned his twin.

"They won't know it," answered Fred, "but they'll take it for granted,
nevertheless. I'll tell you, fellows, I don't know about this," he added
dubiously.

"Oh, don't worry," answered Andy gayly. "Gabe Werner and Bill Glutts
deserve all that they are getting, and more too."




CHAPTER XVIII

FISHING THROUGH THE ICE


With nothing of importance to do and nobody to awaken them, the Rover
boys and their chums slept late the next morning. Gif was the first to
get up, and, seeing that the others were still asleep, he made as little
noise as possible when he went out into the living-room to stir up the
smouldering fire and place upon it a couple of extra logs.

"Hello, Gif! Up already?" came from Spouter, when the other cadet came
back to finish his dressing. "What sort of a day is it?"

"Clear as crystal, Spouter. It couldn't be better."

"Then perhaps we'll get a chance to go out hunting."

"Perhaps." Gif looked doubtful for a moment. "I don't know that I care
to leave this place until Glutts and Werner have gone."

"I don't blame you, Gif. It would be just like those mean chaps to try
to do some damage before they left. They are not the kind to appreciate
in the least what we have done for them."

"Hardly--after the way they kicked up about washing a few dishes. It
made me sick."

Gif and Spouter began preparations for breakfast, and while they were at
this the four Rovers appeared, one after another. The door to the room
turned over to Glutts and Werner remained closed.

"Those fellows are certainly putting in some sleep," was Jack's comment.

"Shall I wake 'em up?" questioned Fred quickly.

"No. Let them take their own time," answered Gif. "With such fine
weather they ought to have no trouble in getting away, and there is no
use of another row before they start."

The lads prepared a generous breakfast of pancakes and some sausage meat
that had been brought along from Timminsport, washed down with a copious
supply of hot coffee. As they ate they cast sundry glances at the closed
bedroom door, but saw no sign of Glutts or Werner.

"Gee! they must be sleeping like rocks," was Andy's comment.

"You'd think the smell of the pancakes and sausage would wake 'em up on
such a cold morning as this," added his twin. "My! but it's good!"

"Perhaps they thought they wouldn't bother us about breakfast and take
it out in sleep instead," suggested Fred.

"Say, did any of you fellows get up during the night to get something to
eat--crackers or cheese, or anything like that?" questioned Gif quickly.

All of the others shook their heads.

"What makes you ask that question, Gif?" remarked Jack.

"Why, I saw a lot of crumbs scattered over the kitchen table and on the
floor."

"Maybe Glutts and Werner got up to get something--" began Fred, and then
a sudden idea came into his mind and he gave a start. "Gee! what would
you say if they were gone?"

"Gone!" echoed the others.

"Maybe they're not in that room at all!" added Jack.

"I'll soon find out!" answered Gif, and, leaving the breakfast table, he
went over and tried the bedroom door. It was unlocked, and he opened it
and went inside.

"They're gone, all right enough," he called out, and immediately the
others followed him into the room. Here they found the beds mussed up
and empty. All of the things belonging to Glutts and Werner were gone
and the single window of the room was wide open.

"That's a fine way to leave, I must say," grumbled Gif.

"Yes, and to leave this window wide open so the room can get as cold as
a barn!" added Spouter, as he pulled down the sash. "Some mean fellows,
believe me!"

"Let's see if the horse and sleigh are gone too!" cried Randy.

In a few minutes he and Fred were ready to go out, and they lost no time
in hurrying down to the barn and the shed. Sure enough, the horse and
sleigh were gone, and the barn door had been left wide open.

"I wonder when they went," remarked Fred.

"Most likely as soon as it was daylight. They probably had this all
fixed last night. That's why they went to bed early."

"Well, it doesn't hurt my feelings to have them missing."

"I'd like to know if they took any of our things with them."

The two Rovers returned to the Lodge, and there told of what they had
discovered. A search around the Lodge was immediately instituted, the
boys looking over their clothing and firearms and then their stores and
the regular belongings of the bungalow.

"As far as I can make out, there is only one flannel blanket from the
bed missing," said Gif. "I suppose they took that along to keep warm on
the ride. They didn't have but one small robe in the sleigh."

"I don't know about these stores," announced Spouter, who had been going
over them carefully. "It seems to me we had more canned stuff than
this--some green corn and asparagus, and also some canned salmon and
sardines."

"I wouldn't put it past 'em to take anything they thought they needed,"
declared Fred. "They are just that sort, and everybody here knows it."

"All I can say is, 'Good riddance to bad rubbish,'" said Randy.

"And may we fail to see 'em again while we're in this vicinity," added
his twin.

"My! but it's a real relief to have them gone," announced Jack. "Now we
can do as we please and have the best times ever," and his face showed
his pleasure.

Everybody felt glad to think the two bullies were gone, and soon they
were chatting gayly. Then, after the breakfast dishes had been put away,
all went outside and there indulged in a snowball fight which lasted the
best part of the morning.

After such a glorious time in the open, all the cadets ought to have
felt in the best of spirits, but it was observed by Jack at dinner time
that Fred and the twins looked rather preoccupied. They were whispering
together, and presently Randy spoke.

"I and Andy and Fred have been thinking that perhaps it would be best
for us to let you other fellows know how matters stand," said he. "Maybe
you won't approve of what we did. Just the same, we think Glutts and
Werner deserve it." And thereupon he and the others related what had
been done the evening before down at the shed. All of the others had to
grin at the recital, yet Jack and Gif shook their heads.

"I don't blame you," said the oldest Rover boy. "Just the same, it may
lead to more trouble."

"If they find out that you did it, they'll probably come here and try to
pay us back," was Gif's comment.

"Let them come," announced Spouter. "I guess we can hold our own against
them. I am glad we did something for them to remember us by, especially
if they walked off with some of our stuff."

That afternoon the boys went hunting again, but on account of the heavy
fall of snow did not go any great distance. They managed, however, to
get two more rabbits, and also two squirrels, and two quail.

"Well, that's something, anyhow," declared Fred, who had laid one of the
squirrels low. "A bird and squirrel potpie won't go bad for a change."

"Right-o!" cried Andy.

"Say, Gif, what's the matter with trying our hand at fishing through the
ice?" questioned Jack. "The deep snow ought not to interfere with that
sport."

"Just as you say. We can go down to the river to-morrow if the crowd is
willing."

The day passed without their seeing or hearing any more of Werner and
Glutts, nor did anyone come to disturb them through the night. Once Andy
awoke to hear a noise at a distance, but he soon figured out that this
was nothing more than a hoot owl.

Ten o'clock of the next day found them on the river bank. They had
brought their fishing tackle with them, and also an axe with which to
chop some holes through the ice.

"Pretty thick, I'm thinking," announced Jack, as they came out on the
ice. "We'll have our own troubles making holes."

"How foolish we were not to bring our skates along!" cried Randy. "We
could have a dandy skate." Their skates had been left up at the Lodge.

"Never mind, we'll skate some other time," said Spouter. "We're out for
some fish to-day."

It took over half an hour to knock several fair-sized holes through the
ice, and then the boys began their fishing, following directions that
had been given to Gif by some of the older hunters.

"If I catch a whale I don't see how I'm going to bring him up through
this hole," remarked Andy, with a grin.

"Oh, that's easy," returned his brother gayly. "All you'll have to do
will be to jump in and push him up through the hole where I can get hold
of him."

"Thank you, you can do the jumping in yourself. This water is about
twenty degrees below Cicero."

"I was thinking that we could enlarge one of the holes and keep it
open," said Jack, with a serious look on his face; "then all you fellows
can come down here every morning and take a dip." At present they were
obtaining water from a deep well directly outside of the kitchen.

They fished for a long time without getting even a nibble. But then Jack
felt a gentle tug, and, after some little excitement, managed to bring
out a fair-sized catch.

"Hurrah! The first fish!" he cried, holding it up proudly.

"And may he be the forerunner of many more," proclaimed Spouter.