"I want a whale," declared Randy.

Such a catch was an incentive to all of the others to do their best, and
as a result inside of three hours the lads had eleven fish between them,
some of fair size and others quite small, one, in fact, so tiny that it
was thrown back into the stream, "so it might grow a little," as Fred
expressed it.

"One o'clock!" announced Gif, looking at his watch. "I think we had
better go back to the Lodge and have some of these fish fried for
dinner."

"Second the commotion!" cried Randy quickly.

Properly fried, the freshly-caught fish proved delicious eating, and the
boys lingered over the repast while a scrap of those which had been
served was left. Half of the catch was packed away in snow to be served
at another time.

The day had just come to an end when the boys heard a jingle of
sleighbells on the road, and then came a whistle.

"It's Jed Wallop," announced Gif.

"Yes, and he's coming from the direction of Timminsport!" cried Fred.
"He must have been down to the town."

"Look! He's holding up some letters!" ejaculated Jack. "Letters!"

"Letters! Letters!" was the general cry, and then the whole crowd of
cadets rushed down to meet the old hunter.




CHAPTER XIX

LETTERS FROM HOME


While Gif was sorting out the mail, which included not only letters but
also several packages which had been sent by parcel post, Jack and
Spouter told the old hunter about the coming of the two bullies to the
Lodge, and how they had sneaked away at daybreak.

"Accordin' to that, them fellers can't be very good friends o' yourn,"
remarked the old hunter dryly.

"They are our enemies," answered Spouter. "They did all sorts of mean
things at Colby Hall, and when they were found out Werner got so scared
that he ran away and never came back."

"I guess their folks ought to take 'em in hand. If they don't they'll be
sorry fer it later on," said Wallop. "But I must be gittin' on now, fer
I've got to git ready to-night fer a big day's work to-morrow."

"Some day we want you to come down here and go out hunting with us,"
said Jack. "Can't you show us where we can get a chance at a deer, or
something else that is worth while?"

"Wot's the matter with stirrin' up a bear?" replied the old hunter, with
a grin, his eyes twinkling.

"That would suit me to a T!" exclaimed Randy.

"Trot out your bears and we'll polish 'em off!" added his twin.

"Not many bears 'round here," announced Jed Wallop. "But you might
strike something jest as bad, especially if the snow keeps on gittin'
deeper. The wolves in this neighborhood git mighty pestiferous when they
can't git nothin' to eat."

"Wolves!" exclaimed Fred. "Gee! I don't know that I want to run up
against a savage wolf."

After promising to come down and see them during the following week, Jed
Wallop drove off, leaving the boys to return to the Lodge and look over
their letters and parcel post packages.

"Here is a letter from mother, and it encloses a letter from dad!" cried
Jack, as he glanced over the epistle.

"I've got a letter from Mary," said Fred. "And here is one from May
Powell, too."

"Who is your second letter from, Jack?" queried Spouter.

"Oh, never you mind about that."

"Looks as if it might be in Ruth Stevenson's handwriting," said Andy,
with a grin.

There were letters for everybody. Two of the packages were from the
Rover boys' homes, and the third had been sent to Spouter by his mother.

"A fruit cake!" exclaimed Fred, as he opened the package addressed to
him. "I'll tell you! It takes my mother to remember what us fellows
like," and he smacked his lips.

The other package, addressed to Andy and Randy, contained a box of
home-made sugar cookies, while that which Spouter had received contained
a long loaf of ginger cake and a box of hard candies.

"Well, one thing is sure--they haven't forgotten us," was Spouter's
remark, as he passed the candies around.

All the boys were anxious to read their letters, and for the time being
everything else was forgotten. Mrs. Dick Rover wrote that nothing of
importance had happened at home since they had gone away. Ruth Stevenson
and May Powell were still with them, but all of the girls expected to go
to the Stevenson homestead to finish their school vacation.

The letter from Dick Rover had been sent from the battlefront in France.
In it he related how he and his brothers, as well as some of their old
school chums, had been in a number of small engagements. In one of these
Tom and Sam Rover had been slightly wounded by the fragments from a
shell, and he himself had been in a gas attack, but had escaped without
serious injury. All had been sent to the field hospital to be treated,
but now they were once more at the front in what were called their
winter quarters.

       *       *       *       *       *

"The Boches are watching us like a cat watches a mouse, and we are
equally on the alert," wrote Dick Rover. "There have been no big
battles, but sniping is going on constantly, and several of our men have
been killed or wounded. We are all anxious to have the cold weather
break up, so that we can go forward and finish this war. We feel that we
can wallop the enemy, if only we have a chance to get at them."

       *       *       *       *       *

"That's dad, all right," murmured Jack admiringly. He had read the
letter aloud for the benefit of the others.

"Oh, dear! I hope dad wasn't seriously hurt," murmured Fred.

"I think if our fathers were very badly hurt Uncle Dick would let us
know," answered Randy. "He isn't one to hold back news--he knows we want
the truth."

"If only this war was over!" remarked Andy, and now there was little of
his usual light-heartedness in his tone. "I won't feel at ease until our
soldiers are bound for home."

The six cadets talked over the letters they had received for some time.
They had brought stationery with them, and they spent the evening
writing letters in return.

"I don't see how we're going to get these down to Timminsport unless we
walk down there," remarked Jack. "And a walk of five or six miles
through this snow each way wouldn't be an easy job."

"I know what we can do," replied Gif. "We can skate down the river to a
place called Henryville. There is a post-office there, and letters are
sent over to Timminsport at least once a day."

"How far is it to Henryville?" questioned Randy.

"Oh, not more than three miles."

"Do you suppose the skating is any good?"

"I don't see why it shouldn't be."

"Let's do it!" broke in Spouter. "We wanted to have a skate anyway. We
can take our guns along, in case we see any game." And so it was
arranged.

The next day dawned bright and clear, and after breakfast the boys got
their letters and their skates and started for the river.

"I'll wager we'll find the ice covered with snow in some places,"
remarked Randy.

"I don't know about that," answered Gif. "I was hoping the high wind had
swept it pretty clean."

They were soon on the ice, their skates ringing merrily as they struck
out into an impromptu race. They swept down the river and around a broad
bend, and were soon well out of sight of the tract of forest land upon
which the Lodge was located.

"I hope Glutts and Werner don't visit the bungalow during our absence,"
remarked Spouter.

"Well, that's a risk we've got to run," answered Jack. "We can't remain
at home all the time."

"Exactly so!" put in Gif. "And it would be no fun for some of us to stay
behind on guard while the others were off enjoying themselves."

For the most part they found the river swept clear of snow, although
here and there were drifts more or less deep over which they had to
plough their way as best they could. This, however, was nothing but fun
for the lads, and nobody complained.

Arriving at Henryville, they found that the mail for Timminsport would
go out in less than an hour, and also learned that the mail from that
place came in twice daily, morning and evening.

"Let's have all our mail re-addressed from Timminsport to Henryville,"
suggested Fred; "then we can come down here on our skates any time we
feel like it and get it." And this was done.

They found a fairly good general store at Henryville, and made a few
purchases of such things as they thought they could use to advantage
during their outing. They were about to start up the river again when
Jack's attention was attracted to a large sleigh drawn by a pair of
powerful horses. The sleigh was driven by a man who looked as if he
might be a German, and on the back seat, wedged in by a number of
packages, were two other German-looking individuals.

"One of those men on the back seat is that Herman Crouse, the fellow we
rescued from the burning car," said Jack to the others.

"Yes, and that driver and the other man are two of the fellows we met on
the road when we were trying to locate the Lodge," added Randy.

"It's queer that that Herman Crouse should be up here," said Fred.

"Oh, I don't know. He said he worked a small farm somewhere in this
vicinity."

"I thought it was down near Enwood," remarked Spouter.

"One thing certain--I don't like the looks of those other Germans," came
from Gif. "They look like mighty suspicious characters to me."

Even had the boys wished to do so, they got no opportunity to speak to
the man they had rescued from the burning railroad car. The sleigh had
stopped at a house in Henryville, and now it passed on around a corner
of the road, and was soon lost to sight in the woods.

Now that they knew their letters were on the way, the cadets were in no
hurry to get back to the Lodge. They had brought along a few sandwiches
and now purchased some fresh doughnuts, in case they stayed away from
the Lodge during the lunch hour.

"Let's take our time and skate up one or two branches of this river,"
suggested Gif. "It will be easier than walking, and we may have a chance
at some game."

All were willing, and it was suggested that Gif led the way, which he
did. They left the main stream and started up a smaller watercourse
leading directly into the forest.

"I just saw a rabbit!" exclaimed Randy presently. "There he is now!"
and, raising his gun, he fired quickly. But his aim was not good, and
the bunny hopped behind a tree and out of sight.

"Too bad you had to take a shot for nothing," remarked Fred. "That may
put the other game in this vicinity on the alert."

Soon they came to a point where skating was not so easy. At first they
thought to go back, but then it was suggested that they tramp along the
frozen-up watercourse on foot.

"I was thinking we might run across some brook mink up here," said Gif.
"Or some ducks."

"Oh, I'd like to get a mink or a duck if there are any in this
vicinity," answered Jack.

On they tramped until a good quarter of a mile had been covered. Then
they caught sight of several rabbits, and brought down two of them.
Later still they saw a squirrel, but though Spouter shot at the frisky
creature, it managed to elude him.

"Well, we can't expect to bag everything we shoot at," consoled Jack.

"I think I know of a short cut from here to the Lodge," said Gif. "So if
you would rather tramp through the woods than go back by way of the
river, we might do so and get a chance at some other game."

"All right, Gif; lead the way," said Jack, and they went forward under
Gif's guidance.

They were deep in the forest when they heard a whir overhead. They
looked up quickly to see a number of partridges sailing past close to
the tree tops.

"Quick!" yelled Jack, and blazed away, while all of the others did the
same.




CHAPTER XX

LOST IN THE WOODS


There was no time wasted in shooting at the partridges which were flying
along so close to the tree tops. The six cadets did their best but four
of the charges went wild. The aim of Jack and Gif was effective, and one
wounded partridge came fluttering down to the snow while another dropped
dead on the branches of a nearby cedar.

"Hurrah! we've got two of them, anyhow," cried Gif, as he reached
forward and quickly put the wounded bird out of its misery.

"We've got two provided we can reach that one up in the tree," answered
Jack. "I'm afraid it's going to be some climb to get it down."

"That's so," said Randy.

"Oh, I can get up there in no time!" cried Andy gayly. "Here, take my
gun," and with his usual agility he was soon mounting the branches of
the big tree, taking particular delight in shaking down great masses of
loose snow on the heads of those below.

As is usual with cedars, the branches were close together, and Andy soon
found he would have his own troubles in reaching the point where the
dead partridge rested. However, he kept on, worming his way upward as
best he could, until he was within a few feet of the prize.

"Some climb, believe me!" he called out to those below. "This tree is
almost as close-grown as a cedar bush."

Up went Andy, and presently managed to get hold of the dead partridge
and drew the game toward him. Just as he did this he heard a peculiar
sound a few feet below him on the other side of the tree.

"Hello! is somebody following me?" he questioned, looking down to see
what the movement among the branches below meant.

There was no reply to his question, and Andy came to the conclusion that
the branches must have become crossed in some way and then loosened
themselves. He continued his descent, but just as he reached a branch
two feet further down a peculiar cry came to his alert ears, a cry not
unlike that of an angry cat.

"Hello! something is up in this tree, that is sure," he told himself.

He listened, and then heard another cry, this time less than two yards
below him, coming from one of the larger branches of the big cedar. At
once he sent up a shout.

"What's wanted?" questioned his twin. "Why don't you hurry up down so we
can do some more hunting?"

"There is some wild animal in this tree!" answered Andy. "I don't know
what it is, but it sounds like a wildcat."

"A wildcat!" burst out several of the others.

"And Andy hasn't any gun!" cried Gif. "Come on, let us see if we can't
shoot the thing!"

"Go slow there," cautioned Jack. "Let us see if we can't locate it and
find out what it is first. We don't want it to attack Andy while he is
unarmed."

"Are you in any danger, Andy?" called out Fred.

"Where is the cat--or whatever it is?" asked Randy.

"It's just below me somewhere. I can't see it, but I can hear it plainly
enough. It's moving around in those lower branches. I guess I had better
stay up here for a while;" and as he spoke Andy mounted to a higher
limb. With no weapon handy, he had no desire to face any wild animal.

Those below slowly circled the big cedar, keeping their eyes on the
alert for a view of whatever might be prowling around among the
branches. They had their guns ready for use, but realized that they must
fire with great caution, or otherwise they might hit the lad who was in
peril.

"I suppose the wildcat, or whatever it is, was up in the tree and didn't
know what to do when Andy started to come up. The beast knew we were
down here, or otherwise it would probably have jumped down and run off."

"Squirrels don't cry like a cat, and I heard that beast just cry," said
Jack. "All squirrels do is to chatter."

"There's another danger," said Gif. "If we come too close to that tree
we'll probably drive the wildcat, or whatever it is, up to where Andy
is."

"Here's the bird!" shouted Andy from above, and threw the partridge down
and away from the tree.

Jack and Andy's twin took a few steps closer to the big cedar, at the
same time holding their guns ready for instant use. They peered upward
among the snow-laden branches, and presently caught sight of a slinking
form resting in a crotch of the tree.

"There it is!" exclaimed Randy, and was on the point of firing when the
wildcat--for such it had proved to be--dropped out of sight and leaped
to a branch on the other side of the tree trunk.

"Hi there! don't drive that beast up here," called out Andy.

"Andy," called back his twin suddenly, "weren't you carrying that
flashlight?"

"No, I left it at the Lodge. I didn't think I would want it on the trip
to Henryville."

"I've got my flashlight," remarked Gif. "Here it is," and he brought it
forth.

The light was flashed up into the tree and around from branch to branch.
As the rays traveled through the cedar there was a sudden wild cry from
the animal, and then came a swish and a whirr as the wildcat sprang to
the outer end of a limb and then down into the snow.

Bang! bang! bang! went the guns in the hands of Gif, Randy, and Spouter.
But whether they hit the wildcat or not, they could not tell. There was
a whirl in the snow, and then in a twinkling the beast had disappeared
into the forest behind them.

"Well, it's gone, anyhow," declared Jack, in a tone of great relief.
"You can come down, Andy."

Andy was soon out of the tree, and, having picked up the two partridges,
the six young hunters continued on their way, as they supposed, in the
direction of Cedar Lodge.

Presently they came to another clearing, and on the far side of this
noted some animals hopping about which they felt certain must be
rabbits.

"Let's go over there!" cried Fred excitedly. "Maybe we can make a good
haul."

"It's a pretty good tramp around to the other side of this clearing,"
remarked Gif. "And it looks to me as if it might begin to snow again,"
he added, with a glance at the sky which was now heavily overcast.

But all of the others wanted a chance to get more game, so in the end
the six cadets tramped around one edge of the clearing until they
reached a point close to the spot where the rabbits had been seen. Here
the bunnies were out in force, trying to find something to eat, and they
had but little difficulty in bagging four of the creatures.

"Well, that's not so bad but what it might be worse," announced Jack.

"We should have had more than four," grumbled Randy. "There were at
least fifteen or sixteen rabbits to be seen." He had missed what he had
thought to be a comparatively easy shot.

"Well, we can't have everything," declared Spouter philosophically.

They trudged on once more, Gif, as before, taking the lead. But
presently the tall cadet called a halt.

"What's the matter now?" questioned Randy. "See any more game ahead?"

"No." Gif was staring around first to the right and then to the left.
"Hang it if I know whether we are on the right trail or not!"

"Do you mean to say, Gif, you don't know in what direction the Lodge is
located?" questioned Spouter quickly.

"I think it's off in that direction, Spouter," was the reply, and Gif
pointed with his hand, "but I'm not dead sure of it. Circling that
clearing threw me off the track."

"Well, were you sure of the trail before we came over here?" questioned
Jack. "If you were, we can go back you know, even though it is quite a
tramp."

"I thought I was sure, Jack. But now I'm not sure of anything," answered
Gif helplessly. "Someway or other, I seem to be completely turned
around."

"Gee! then we're in a pretty pickle," groaned Fred, who was beginning to
grow tired of tramping through the snow.

"If we could only get down to the river again we'd be all right," came
from Randy.

"I wonder if I could locate the Lodge from the top of one of these
trees," remarked Jack. "It would be quite a climb to get such a view,
but it would be better than tramping around without knowing where one
was going."

"I'll do the climbing," answered Gif quickly. "I got you fellows into
this mess, and it's up to me to get you out."

"Oh, don't think I'm complaining," returned Spouter quickly.

"None of us is complaining, Gif. We all know it's the easiest thing in
the world to get lost in a big woods like this--especially when there is
snow on the ground to cover up the landmarks."

A tall pine was selected, and the others boosted Gif upward as far as
they could. Then he mounted from branch to branch, and the others waited
below as patiently as possible for what he might have to report. In the
meantime a few flakes of snow came drifting downward, and soon it was
snowing steadily.

"Well, what can you see?" called out Jack, after those below had waited
quite a while for their chum to make a report.

"I can't see very much on account of the snow coming down," announced
Gif. "I can see the edge of a clearing that might be the one where Cedar
Lodge is located, but I am not certain of it."

"Well, take another good look," advised Spouter. "Wish we had field
glasses," he added.

It was a full fifteen minutes before Gif rejoined the others. He had
located but one place that looked like the clearing surrounding the
Lodge, but, as he had said before, he was by no means certain that this
was the right location.

"Well, we might as well try it anyway," announced Jack. "We can't stay
here all night."

[Illustration: BANG! BANG! BANG! WENT THE GUNS IN THE HANDS OF GIF,
RANDY, AND SPOUTER.]

"It's too bad it began to snow so heavily just as I was climbing the
tree," remarked Gif. "If it hadn't been for that I might have gotten
quite a view and maybe located the bungalow without difficulty. However,
this may prove to be the right trail after all. Come on, before it gets
dark."

"Wish I had something more to eat," remarked Andy. The few sandwiches
and doughnuts they had brought along had long since been eaten.

As they walked on the way seemed to grow more difficult. They soon found
themselves at a point where there were a series of rocks backed up by
low-hanging bushes thickly covered with snow. There was no wind, but the
snow was now coming down more thickly than ever.

"Gee! it looks to me as if we were lost," remarked Fred.

All gazed around them, but saw little to give them satisfaction. Behind
them lay the thick forest, and in front of them the rocks and bushes. It
was now growing dark, and this added to their uneasiness.

"Well, what shall we do next?" questioned Gif.

Nobody answered that question. They were undoubtedly lost, and what was
to be done about it was a serious problem.




CHAPTER XXI

A NIGHT UNDER THE CLIFF


"One thing is sure," said Jack presently. "We can't stand out here in
this snowstorm all night."

"Let's go on at least a short distance further," broke in Spouter.

"Maybe we'll come to some sort of trail that Gif will recognize," put in
Randy.

"I'm getting dead tired. I can't tramp more than a mile or two further,"
said Fred.

"I don't believe any of us care to go any such distance as that, Fred,"
returned Jack kindly. "Here, give me your gun. I'll carry it for you,"
for it was plainly to be seen the youngest Rover was becoming exhausted.

All were tired out from their skate and their tramp, and climbing among
the rough rocks covered with snow was by no means easy.

Soon they reached another line of rocks, this time much higher than
those they had been crossing. At one end of the rocks was a small cliff.
At the top of this several cedars had once stood, but the winds of the
winter before had blown them over, so that, while the roots were still
imbedded in the cliff, the tops rested in the snow below.

"Great salt mackerel!" cried Gif in dismay. "Well, now I have spilled
the beans!"

"What's up now?" questioned Randy quickly.

"I heard my uncle tell about this place. He visited it just after those
trees fell over. He said the spot was about three miles from the Lodge."

At this there was a groan from the twins and Fred.

"We can't walk that distance in this snowstorm," said the latter
decidedly.

"Not over those rough rocks, anyway," added Randy. "I feel as if my
ankles were getting twisted out of shape."

"Do you know in what direction the Lodge is from here?" questioned
Spouter.

"I do not, except that you have to be on the top of the cliff to get to
it. We were evidently headed the right way, although we must have walked
in a big semicircle since we left the river."

"I'm going to climb to the top of the cliff and have a look around,"
declared Jack. "Here, take these guns and the game."

It was no easy matter to mount to the top of the cliff which at this
point was at least fifteen feet over their heads. But Jack finally made
it, and was followed by Spouter and Gif.

Here, however, the view was no better than from below--the thickly
falling snow hiding the landscape on every side. Night was coming on and
it was growing colder, and the boys could not help but shiver.

"I guess the best thing we can do it to try to make ourselves
comfortable for the night," remarked Jack.

"How can we make ourselves comfortable without anything to eat?"
questioned Spouter.

"We've got the game. We can start a fire and cook some of that."

"And besides, you must remember we have the things we bought at
Henryville," said Gif.

The three rejoined the others, and the question of what to do was put to
the younger Rovers. Fred and Andy declared they could not tramp much
further, and at once agreed that it would be best to try to make
themselves comfortable for the night.

"It looks as if there might be some kind of shelter under those fallen
cedars," said Randy. "Hanging down from the top of the cliff, they form
a sort of lean-to."

"I was thinking of that," said Jack. "Let us get under them and
investigate."

"Beware of more wildcats," cautioned Andy.

"We'll use my flashlight," said Gif.

This was done, he and several of the others investigated the spot under
the fallen cedars with care. No trace of any wild animal, not even a
rabbit or a squirrel, was found. Then the boys began to size up the
situation, trying to determine how they could make themselves at home
there for the night.

"First of all I think we had better build a fire," suggested Gif. "Then,
after we have warmed up and rested a bit, we can prepare supper."

With so much wood at hand it was an easy matter to start a campfire.
This was placed at one side of the opening under the fallen cedars, the
boys taking care that the flames should not reach the trees. With their
hatchet they cut off some of the cedar boughs and scattered these over
the ground for a flooring. The driest they placed to one side to use for
bedding later.

Fortunately while at Henryville they had purchased a fair-sized box of
cocoa. This box was of tin, and Jack suggested that they dump the cocoa
out on a sheet of paper which he had in his pocket and then use the tin
for a pot in which to boil water.

"It won't make a very large cocoa pot, but it will be better than
nothing, and we can fill it as many times as we please."

The boys had several collapsible drinking cups with them, and these they
would take turns in using.

"I'm mighty glad we bought that cheese," remarked Spouter. "That will
help out quite a little," for they carried a piece weighing almost two
pounds.

Of the other things purchased at Henryville, only a box of fancy
crackers could be used. There were two dozen all told, and these were
divided by Randy, four crackers to each cadet.

"We'll clean a couple of the rabbits and see what we can do about
broiling them over the flames," said Gif. "Now you fellows can show what
you can do," he added, with a grin. "It's all well enough to work when
you've got the tools to work with, but quite another story when you've
got next to nothing."

Water was obtained by melting a quantity of the snow, and soon they had
the first can of hot cocoa ready. In the meanwhile several of the lads
were broiling the rabbits as best they could.

"I know how I'm going to heat the next can of water," declared Andy.
"I'm going to do as the Indians did--drop a clean, redhot stone into
it." And this he did later on and got his boiling water in short order.

It was not a very satisfactory meal, but the lads had fun eating it, and
they did not complain when they found portions of the broiled rabbits
slightly burnt and found that four fancy crackers with cheese each did
not take the place of a big pan of biscuits or a good-sized loaf of
bread.

"One thing is in our favor, anyhow," said Fred, with a sigh of
satisfaction, after they had finished their scant meal. "We won't have
to wash the dishes."

The can was dried over the fire, the cocoa was replaced, and then the
lads proceeded to make themselves comfortable for the night. They missed
their blankets, and it was therefore decided that they should take turns
in sitting up and guarding the fire, so that all might keep warm without
running the danger of setting fire to the cedars under which they were
resting.

It proved to be a long and wearisome night for most of them. The resting
places were anything but soft, and a fitful wind often blew the smoke of
the campfire toward the would-be sleepers, causing them to cough and
shift their positions. But neither man nor beast came to disturb them,
for which they were thankful.

"Going to bother about breakfast?" questioned Jack, as he sat up and saw
that Gif and Spouter were already stirring.

"I don't think so," was the answer. "If you fellows are willing, we'll
strike right out for the Lodge. We can get a better meal there."

The others agreed, and almost before daylight they were on their way
again. They climbed to the top of the cliff, and, after moving around
cautiously for several hundred feet, reached a well defined trail
running in the direction Gif thought they ought to take.

The storm had cleared away, and soon the sun came peeping over the
treetops.

"Gee! I won't do a thing to a good hot breakfast when we reach the
Lodge," remarked Randy to his twin.

"I'll be with you," returned Andy. "A big heaping plate of pancakes with
maple syrup for me, flanked by a couple of good-sized sausage cakes and
washed down with a big cup of that cocoa!"

"Say, Andy, you make me hungry clean down to my shoes!" burst out Fred.

"I think we'll all be able to eat a good breakfast by the time we get
there," announced Gif.

"Are you sure you are on the right trail, Gif?" questioned Spouter
anxiously.

"Yes, I know where I am now. It's queer how I got mixed up before."

"How much further?" questioned Jack.

"About half a mile."

They crossed another small clearing, and on the edge of this caught
sight of several more rabbits. Jack and Randy fired simultaneously and
were lucky to bring down two of the bunnies.

"They will help out the larder just so much more," announced Gif, after
they had tried for several minutes to stir up more of the rabbits, but
without success.

"I wish we could get a chance at some other kind of game," remarked
Jack.

Presently they caught sight of Cedar Lodge at a distance, and then all
hurried their pace.

"Looks mighty good to a fellow after he's been away all night," declared
Spouter.

"Look, Look!" burst out Gif. "What can that mean? Every window and every
door of the Lodge is wide open!"

"Sure as you're born, Gif is right!" ejaculated Fred. "Something is
wrong, that's sure."

All set off on a run, to ascertain as quickly as possible what had
occurred at the Lodge during their absence. Gif was the first to enter
the place, but he was quickly followed by the others.

"Gee! what do you know about this?" ejaculated Andy.

"This is the work of our enemies!" murmured Jack.

The doors and windows had evidently been open for some time, for the
Lodge was bitter cold inside and not a little snow had drifted in
through the openings. The wind had likewise entered, blowing the ashes
of the dead fire in all directions.

"I'll bet Glutts and Werner did this!" cried Spouter.

"Just what I think," answered Jack.




CHAPTER XXII

AT TONY DUVAL'S CAMP


The six cadets lost no time in making a thorough examination of the
Lodge. In the bedrooms they found everything topsy-turvy, the bed
clothes having been hauled near the windows where the incoming snow
might fall upon them. In the kitchen they found many of their cooking
utensils in the sink, and over them had been poured a mixture of flour,
catsup, maple syrup, and condensed milk. In the storeroom many other
things were upset, and not a few of the supplies appeared to be missing.

"This is certainly the worst yet!" groaned Fred, as he looked at the
mussed-up and ruined food.

"I said Glutts and Werner would get back at you for meddling with their
supplies," remarked Jack sharply. "They have certainly paid us back with
interest."

"I wish we had those two fellows here now. I'd hammer them good and
proper," declared Randy. "Just the same, I suppose this is our fault,
and I'm mighty sorry for it," he added, looking at Jack, Gif, and
Spouter.

"They either took a large share of our supplies away, or else hid them,"
said Gif, after another look around. "My, what a mess they did make!"

"Well, as we are largely responsible for this, it's up to us to take
hold and clean up the best we can," announced Randy to his twin and
Fred.

"Right you are," answered Andy. "Come ahead! we'll clean up the
living-room first and get a fresh fire started."

"All right, you fellows do that, and we'll tackle the bedrooms," said
Jack. "We'll have to dry out that bedding before night."

Soon the whole crowd was busy, breakfast, for the time, being forgotten.
All went at the task with a will, and before long everything was
straightened out but the kitchen. Doors and windows had been closed, a
fresh fire had been lit, and then the roaring logs sent a grateful
warmth through the entire bungalow.

"Now we'll get breakfast, and then we'll clean up this mess in the
kitchen," announced Gif.

"And what are we going to do after that?" questioned Jack.

"What do you think we ought to do, Jack?"

"Square accounts with Glutts and Werner, if they are the guilty
parties."

"They only paid us back for what Fred and the twins did," said Spouter.
"I don't know but what we might as well call it quits."

"Well, we'll go over there, anyway, and see what they've got to say for
themselves," said Jack. "Perhaps at the least we'll be able to scare
them so that they'll leave us alone in the future."

"All right, we might do that," answered Gif; and so it was decided.

The boys came to the conclusion that Glutts and Werner, accompanied
possibly by Codfish, must have visited the Lodge some time in the middle
of the previous afternoon. Evidently the marauders had been afraid that
the bungalow's occupants might return at any moment, for they had worked
with great speed.

"They took a big chance with that fire," remarked Randy. "If the wind
had blown the sparks too far--into the bedrooms for instance--the whole
place might have gone up in flames."

At first the lads thought to go over to Tony Duval's place without
delay. But by the time they had straightened out the bungalow and gotten
their breakfast, the older cadets were in a different frame of mind.

"More than likely they'll be on their guard to-day, looking for us to
come over," said Jack. "Let us wait two or three days and try to catch
them unawares," and this change was made in their plans.

Several days, including Sunday, passed, and the six cadets took it easy.
It snowed part of the time, so that they went out hunting only once. On
that trip they managed to get several more rabbits and four quail, but
that was all.

"I thought I saw a fox," said Gif on the morning following. "I heard him
bark during the night too."

"Was he a silver fox?" questioned Jack eagerly.

"I didn't see him well enough to find out, and I can't tell the color of
a fox from his bark," was Gif's somewhat dry reply. And at this there
was a laugh.

Then the storm cleared away once more, and on the following morning the
boys resolved to tramp in the direction of Tony Duval's place and see if
they could locate Werner and Glutts.

"I don't believe this Tony Duval is a very nice fellow to meet,"
remarked Gif, when they were on their way. "I saw him twice, and he
looked like anything but a pleasant character."

The middle of the forenoon found them on the grounds occupied by the
various shacks belonging to the French-Canadian. They were small
structures, built for the most part of slabsides, and each contained but
two windows and a door.

"I wonder which shack is that used by Glutts and Werner," remarked
Randy, as they looked around.

Nobody was in sight. There were five of the shacks located several
hundred feet apart, and each with some timber around it.

"We'll try the nearest place," said Gif, and, going up to it, he knocked
sharply on the door. He waited for fully a minute, but there was no
reply.

"Seems to be empty," remarked Jack, after looking in through one of the
windows. "There is no sign of a fire in the fireplace."

They tramped on to the next shack, and found that was likewise vacant.

"I think we'll find somebody at home in the third shack," announced
Spouter. "Anyway, I see smoke coming from the chimney."

They were approaching the doorway of this rude structure when it was
suddenly flung open and a man stepped into view. He wore a hunter's
outfit, and carried a double-barreled shotgun in his hands.

"Who are you?" he questioned, and his tone had a strong French accent.
"What do you want here?"

"We are looking for a fellow named Werner who hired one of these
shacks," answered Gif.

"Who are you?" repeated the man sharply, and then Gif recognized Tony
Duval.

"I am the son of one of the men who own Cedar Lodge. We want to find
Werner and the two fellows who are with him."

"Aha! So you are the young fellows from Cedar Lodge who made so much
trouble for Mistaire Werner and his friends," cried Tony Duval. "He has
told me all about that."

"Did he tell you what he did down at Cedar Lodge?" demanded Jack.

"He say he would square the account. Why should he not do that? You have
no right to destroy his things and hurt his horse."

"We didn't touch his horse!" answered Fred quickly.

"His horse is gone lame, and he say you do that," cried Tony Duval. "I
do not want such people as you around my place. You can go back, and you
must stay off my property," and Tony Duval emphasized his words by
handling his shotgun suggestively.

"If Werner and his friend are here we want to see them," cried Jack
sharply. "Which shack do they live in?"

"They live there." Duval pointed with his thumb. "They are not at home
now. They go on a hunt. But you shall not make more trouble for them or
you will hear from me," and again he handled his gun suggestively. The
man's face was very red and looked as if he had been drinking. Evidently
he was in an ugly humor.

After that the cadets attempted to argue with Tony Duval, but all to no
purpose. He was very stubborn, and he insisted upon it that they had
already made a great deal of trouble for his patrons. He finally ordered
them away, and acted so threateningly that they retired.

"Well, we've had our walk for nothing," remarked Fred, when they were in
the woods again.

"I don't know about that," answered Randy. "Let us keep our eyes open.
Maybe we'll run across Werner and Glutts."

The four Rovers and their chums walked leisurely through the woods,
keeping their eyes open for the possible appearance of their enemies,
and also for any game that might present itself. Thus the best part of
an hour went by, and they managed to bring down one more rabbit and also
a squirrel. Then they heard some shooting at a distance, and walked
cautiously in that direction.

"There they are!" cried Randy presently, and pointed out of the woods
and across a small clearing.

All looked in the direction indicated, and there saw Werner, Glutts, and
Codfish. Each had a gun, and the three had been shooting at a number of
rabbits. Only Werner had been successful, the others shooting wide of
the mark.

"Let us circle the clearing and surprise them," said Jack, and to this
the others immediately agreed.

With caution they made their way around the clearing, doing their best
to remain hidden from the other boys. They had no desire to be mistaken
for game and shot at, so they had to keep their eyes on the alert as
they advanced.

Werner and his cronies had passed into the woods, and now were making
their way down a hillside into a hollow where they had built a
fair-sized campfire. As the Rovers and their chums came closer they saw
the three sitting around the campfire and evidently getting ready to
have a midday lunch.

"Come on! We're six to three, so we ought to be able to manage those
fellows with ease!" cried Fred.

"Wait a minute! I've got an idea!" exclaimed Randy, holding his cousin
back.

"What is it?" questioned Spouter.

"Do you see how much higher the other side of the slope is?" went on
Andy. "Well, that slope runs right down to where they are sitting and
have their fire. Now a few big snowballs started down that slope--"

"I've got you, Andy!" burst out his twin, with twinkling eyes. "It will
be great! Come on, fellows, we'll smother 'em with snow!"




CHAPTER XXIII

SIX BIG SNOWBALLS


It did not take the four Rovers and their chums long to reach that part
of the slope pointed out by Andy. As he had said, this was much higher
than the spot where they had stood before and the slope was much
steeper, leading directly down to where Werner, Glutts, and Codfish were
now busy over their campfire preparing the midday meal.

The bully and his cronies were good feeders, and had brought a
considerable quantity of food for their lunch. Some of this was now
spread out on a napkin resting on the snow, and the rest of it was being
warmed over the campfire.

"It's the chance of our lives," said Randy softly. "Come on, fellows,
let's make the biggest snowballs we can."

All of the others were willing, and soon they had rolled six snowballs,
each of which was two feet or more in diameter.

Of course, our friends were well out of sight of those in the hollow,
and as they spoke in low tones their enemies had no suspicion of what
was coming.

"Now then, place all the snowballs in a line on the very edge of the
slope," said Jack. "And, Gif, you give the word when we are to push them
down."

Soon the six massive snowballs were lined up side by side. Those behind
them looked below to make sure that none of the trio was close to the
fire, because they did not wish anybody to be burnt.

"Now then," whispered Gif suddenly, when he saw the three lads sit down
with the cooked stuff between them. "All ready? Go!"

Everybody gave a shove, and over the edge of the slope went the six
snowballs, slowly at first, but gradually gathering both size and speed.
Through the snow they rolled and over the bare rocks until almost to the
foot of the slope.

"Hi! what's this coming?" roared Glutts, happening to glance around as a
strange noise reached his ears.

"It's a snowslide!" screamed Werner.

"Oh, oh! let me get out of the way!" shrieked Codfish.

All three attempted to spring to their feet, Glutts knocking over a pot
of hot coffee as he did so. But the movement came too late, for the next
instant the six snowballs bowled over the three boys, hurling them in
all directions. One ball rolled through the lunch, carrying most of this
along, imbedded in the snow. Another snowball went directly through the
campfire, smashing that flat and leaving the embers hissing and
blackened.

"Don't let them see you," called Jack, as the twins were about to dash
down the slope. "Get back there out of sight."

"Oh, they'll know we did it, all right enough," answered Spouter. "Come
on down and have it out with them."

This was what the majority desired, and before Glutts and the others
could recover from their astonishment and dismay Gif and his crowd were
down the slope.

"Huh! so you were the fellows to roll those snowballs down on us,"
growled Bill Glutts, as he rubbed his leg where some of the hot coffee
had been spilled upon it.

"That's a fine way to treat a fellow," said Werner, digging some snow
from his ear.

"And you spoiled all the lunch!" wailed Codfish, looking around for his
cap, which had been knocked off. "Oh dear! I wish I hadn't come to this
out-of-the-way place!"

"Shut up your whining!" roared Werner. "You make me sick!"

"I don't care. I told you yesterday I wanted to go home," answered
Codfish complainingly. "I hate it up here!"

"Well, go home then!" snapped Werner. "Go home this minute if you want
to. I'm sick of having you around."

"You'd do much better, Codfish, if you wouldn't train with fellows like
Werner and Glutts," remarked Jack.

"If I leave them will you fellows show me the way back to Timminsport?"
questioned the sneak of Colby Hall pleadingly. It was plainly to be seen
that he had had no easy time of it since he had come up into the woods.

"That depends," said Gif, and caught the youth by the wrist. "Tell me,
Codfish, were you at our Lodge the other day--the day the whole place
was rough-housed?"

"No, I wasn't, Gif. Really and truly I wasn't!" cried the sneak, in
alarm.

"Were Werner and Glutts alone?"

"Yes, yes! I had nothing to do with it!"

"See here, Codfish, you keep your mouth shut!" roared Glutts, and he
moved forward as if to strike the small youth who cowered before him.

"You keep your distance, Glutts," admonished Jack. "If Codfish is tired
of staying with you fellows, he's going to leave, and you're not to say
anything about it."

"What right had you fellows to smash those snowballs down on us?"
questioned Werner, with an angry look in his eyes.

"What right had you fellows to come and upset Cedar Lodge, destroying
some of our stores, and walking off with some of the others?" questioned
Jack sternly.

"We didn't walk off with anything," answered Werner quickly. "What we
did we had a right to do--to pay you back for what you did to our stores
in the sleigh."

"We didn't take any of your things," put in Fred quickly; "and a whole
lot of our stuff is missing."

"We didn't take a thing away--not a thing," put in Glutts, and he smiled
grimly to himself as he spoke.

"I know what they did!" cried Codfish quickly. "If you'll take me along
with you, and see that I get to Timminsport safely, I'll tell you where
your things are."

"You say a word, Codfish, and I'll lambaste the life out of you!" yelled
Werner.

"You won't touch Codfish!" broke in Jack sturdily. "And if he wants to
go with us, he'll go."

"I want to go!" wailed the sneak. "I don't want to stay with them
another minute. But how am I to get my things that are up at their
shack?" he questioned helplessly.

"Well go up there with you," answered Gif.

A war of words followed, and then in uncontrolled rage Werner and Glutts
attacked Jack and Gif. Half a dozen blows were exchanged, and then
Glutts attempted to run away while Werner attempted to use the butt of
his gun as a club. Andy tripped Glutts up, and Spouter caught Werner
from behind, and as a consequence of the general mix-up the two bullies
received a well-deserved drubbing. Then their weapons were discharged
and their ammunition was taken away from them, and they were told to
march back to Tony Duval's shacks.

Here, as they expected, our friends had another set-to with the
French-Canadian. Tony Duval wanted to take sides with Werner and Glutts,
but the others would not listen.

"This young man is going with us, and he is going to take his things
with him," announced Gif, pointing to Codfish. "If you make any trouble
for us, Duval, I'll at once notify my father and my uncle, and likewise
the authorities at Portview. Your reputation around here is already none
of the best, and I'll see to it that you are treated as you deserve."

"Bah! what do I care for you or your father or your uncle?" cried Tony
Duval, in a rage. "This is my property. You will leave it at once."

"We'll leave when this young man has his things, and not before,"
answered Jack, and now he, too, fingered his gun in a suggestive manner.

Tony Duval realized that he was outnumbered and that the boys from Cedar
Lodge meant business. He grumbled a good deal and talked in a whisper
with Werner and Glutts. In the meanwhile, Codfish hurriedly gathered
together his few belongings, and presently announced that he was ready
to leave.

"Now, one thing more," said Gif, turning to the two bullies. "Don't you
dare to show your faces anywhere near Cedar Lodge again. If you come on
our property, you come at your own peril."

"Oh, you don't know how to take a joke," grumbled Glutts.

"We'll do as we please," added Werner, but it was plainly to be seen
that he was much disturbed.

The boys were about ready to leave the shack when they heard the sound
of sleigh bells, and soon a two-seated sleigh came into sight drawn by a
pair of powerful horses. The turnout drove directly to the front of the
shack occupied by Tony Duval.

"Hello! there are those men again," cried Gif.

All looked and saw that he referred to the Germans they had met on the
road when looking for Cedar Lodge. The newcomers paid no attention to
them, but leaped out of the sleigh and entered the Duval shack.

"I must go," said Tony Duval abruptly. "And I want you to go, too, and
never come back here again," he added, and then hurried away.

"Who are those men?" questioned Jack, turning to Werner and Glutts.

"That's none of your business," answered Werner sourly. "You clear out
of here and never come back."

There seemed nothing to do but to leave the premises, yet the Rovers and
their chums were curious to know who the Germans were and what their
errand to Tony Duval's shack could be. Yet they had no excuse for
lingering longer, so presently they took their departure, Werner and
Glutts looking sourly after them as they walked away.

"Do you know, I'd give a good deal to know more about those Germans,"
remarked Jack, as they trudged along. "I wonder what they want here?
They can't be hunters, because they haven't any hunting outfits."

"They certainly couldn't be up here for business," returned Spouter,
"because there is no business to speak of in this vicinity. Why, there
isn't even a farm or a farmer around here, and the nearest logging camp
is miles away, so they told me at Henryville."

"I'll tell you what we might do," said Gif. "We might pass into the
woods and then turn around and come back again up behind Tony Duval's
shack. We can watch and see what the Germans do, and maybe we'll hear
what they and Duval have to say."