"Stop!" commanded the master of the school, and stepped out from behind
a screen which stood near a corner of the apartment.

"Oh!" ejaculated Nappy. "We're discovered!" and, dropping the bottle of
ink in his hands, he started to run.

"Not so quick, Martell!" came from the doorway, and then both of the
youths were startled to see themselves confronted by Bob Nixon. Behind
the chauffeur stood Captain Dale, while in another doorway appeared the
form of Professor Brice.

"Wa--wa--what does this mean?" stammered Slugger. He knew not what to
say or do.

"It means that I have found you out," answered Colonel Colby sternly.
"You will both march over to my office at once."




CHAPTER XVIII

HOME AGAIN


"Good riddance to bad rubbish!"

"You told the truth that time, Andy. We're certainly well rid of Slugger
Brown and Nappy Martell."

"Say! I'd like to know some of the particulars of the interview Slugger
and Nappy had with Colonel Colby. It must have been a pippin," remarked
Fred.

"One thing is certain--Colonel Colby must have laid down the law pretty
severely to them; otherwise they would never have gotten out of this
school in such a hurry," came from Jack.

"I'm mighty glad I got that one crack in on Martell," remarked Fred.
"Some day I'll give that fellow a licking, big as he is," continued the
youngest of the Rover boys.

"The only fellow I'm sorry for is Codfish," came from Randy. "That poor
little rat looks about as miserable as any kid could look."

"He ought to be thankful that he wasn't kicked out with the others,"
said Spouter. "He certainly deserved it."

"He did," agreed Jack. "Just the same, now that Slugger and Nappy are
gone, if Codfish wants to turn over a new leaf and make a man of
himself, I'm not going to stand in his way."

Twenty-four hours had passed since the events recorded in the previous
chapter. They had been filled with both mystery and excitement for the
Rover boys and their chums. Only a little of what had taken place in
Colonel Colby's office had filtered out to the cadets, but it was enough
to show them that the master of the Hall had dealt severely with Slugger
and Nappy. Those two unworthies had come forth looking both cowed and
excited, and they had rushed up to their rooms to pack their belongings
without delay.

In the meanwhile, Codfish had come forth sobbing, and had been allowed
to go to his room, where he locked himself in and denied himself even to
Mrs. Crews, the matron who looked after the younger scholars.

"I--I don't want to see no--nobody!" Codfish had cried out. "Go away and
leave me alone! I--I didn't mean to do anything! It was Brown and
Martell made me do it!" and then he had burst into another fit of
weeping.

Both the Rover boys and their chums had wanted to see how the bully and
his crony would act after their interview with Colonel Colby. They met
Slugger and Nappy in the hall as they were on the point of leaving the
school, and some sharp words had passed. Nappy had threatened Fred, and
made a savage pass at him with his fist. In return, the youngest Rover
had landed on the other's chin, and sent Nappy staggering up against the
wall.

In the meanwhile, there had been a set-to between Slugger and Jack, and
although the oldest Rover boy was struck on the shoulder, he had had the
satisfaction of making the bully measure his length on his back. Then
the approach of Professor Brice, backed up by Captain Dale and Bob
Nixon, had brought the brief contests to a close, and Slugger and Nappy
had lost no time in hurrying below, where the auto-stage was already in
waiting to take them and their baggage to Haven Point. Many of the
cadets assembled had jeered at the departing youths, and they, in their
rage, had shaken their fists at those left behind as the auto-stage
departed.

"I hope we never see those fellows again," remarked Randy. But this wish
was doomed to disappointment--the Rovers were to see a good deal more of
Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell.

The boys had now to apply themselves to their examinations, and they
went at this with a will, resolved to make the best showing possible.

"We've got to do it," was the way Jack expressed himself. "We want the
folks at home to know that we are keeping at our studies. Then, if they
happen to hear of some of the jokes we play, they will know that we're
doing something else here besides having fun."

The lads had already written home regarding the Christmas holidays and
what they would like to do. In return, they received word that they
could have Gif and Spouter down for the week between Christmas and New
Year's if they so desired. And Jack's mother also sent a letter to
Spouter inviting him to bring along his Cousin May and her friend, Ruth.

     "All of us, including Martha and Mary, will be glad to become
     acquainted with your cousin and her school chum," wrote Mrs. Dick
     Rover. "The girls are very anxious to learn more about Clearwater
     Hall, and it is just possible that we may send them to that school
     later on."

"Hurrah! that's fine!" cried Jack, when Spouter showed him the letter.
"If only May and Ruth go to New York, I'm sure they'll be able to
persuade Martha and Mary that there is no better girls' school on earth
than Clearwater Hall."

"You leave that to me, Jack," answered Spouter. "I'll tell May just what
to do."

Of course the Rover boys were all very anxious after the examinations
were over to find out how they had fared. On the following Friday
afternoon Colonel Colby read the results. Fred and Randy had received
ninety-four per cent., Jack had gotten ninety-two, and Andy had reached
eighty-eight. As seventy per cent. was the passing mark, it can be seen
that the boys had passed with considerable to spare.

"My, that's a relief!" sighed Andy. "Somehow, at the last minute, I was
afraid I had fallen down completely. There were a few examples in
algebra that were regular stickers for me."

"Physiology was what got me," observed Jack grimly. "How do I know how
many bones I've got in my body? I never saw them," and at this there was
a general smile.

After the examinations there was but little to do at the school apart
from the drills. There was an entertainment given by the boys in which
both Jack and Andy took part. Then, almost before they knew it, the
session came to an end, and the cadets had packed up and were on their
way home.

"After all, I'll be glad to see little old New York once more," remarked
Randy, when they and their friends were seated on the train.

"Right you are!" cried Fred. "I think, after the semi-country life at
Haven Point, a big city will look mighty good to us."

"Say, fellows, do you remember when we came up to the school, how we
fell in with Asa Lemm?" remarked Andy.

"I haven't forgotten it!" cried his twin, and then he added quickly: "I
wonder if old Lemon wrote to our folks."

"I don't think so," answered Jack. "If he had, I think we would have
heard of it."

When the boys arrived at the Grand Central Terminal, they found Martha
and Mary and Tom Rover awaiting them.

"Glad to see you back, boys!" cried the father of the twins, as he
greeted them warmly, and then greeted the others.

"Oh, Jack, I declare you're growing awfully tall!" burst out his sister
Martha, as she embraced him.

"Well, I guess Fred is growing tall, too," put in Mary Rover.

"Well, you wouldn't expect any of us to grow shorter, would you?"
queried Andy gaily, and this made both of the girls laugh.

With greetings all around finished, the whole party pushed its way
through the crowd to the Forty-second Street entrance of the Terminal,
where two of the Rover limousines were in waiting.

"This looks something like!" remarked Jack, when the automobiles were on
their way through the busy streets to Riverside Drive. "I haven't seen
so many people since I left."

"And how do you like Colby Hall?" questioned his sister eagerly.

"Dandy, Martha! It couldn't be beat! I can tell you, we boys are mighty
glad that our dads picked out such a bully good school for us," and his
face showed his satisfaction.

"And what about Clearwater Hall?"

"That's a dandy place, too,--at least, the girls who go there say it is.
If May Powell comes down with Spouter, she'll tell you all about it."

The home-coming of the Rover boys was a gala occasion. Dick Rover and
his brother Sam had just come up home from the offices in Wall Street,
and they and their wives, as well as the twins' mother, greeted the lads
affectionately.

"It's been kind of lonely since you went away," said Mrs. Tom Rover, as
she caught each of the twins around the waist.

"I suppose you missed our tricks, Ma," returned Andy slyly.

"Maybe I did, Andy. But I wouldn't mind the tricks so much if only you
were here," and she gave a little sigh.

"Well, we're going to be here for a week, anyway," put in Randy, and
then both of the twins gave their mother such a hug as she had not
received for a long time.

Jack was already telling his father and his two uncles something about
Colby Hall. All of the men listened with close attention and
considerable satisfaction.

"I guess Larry has patterned it pretty closely after Putnam Hall and
West Point," remarked Sam Rover. "And that's as it should be, to my way
of thinking."

"He'd have to go a long way to do better," answered Tom Rover.
"Everybody knows that West Point is an ideal school, and dear old Putnam
Hall was a close second to it."

"I hope you lads haven't been playing too many tricks," went on Dick
Rover, as he gazed from one face to another before him.

"Well, Uncle Dick, we had to play _some_ tricks," answered Andy, a bit
lamely.

"You couldn't expect us to just sit still and hold our hands," added
Randy.

"We might as well own up to one thing," said Jack boldly. "We did play a
trick on one of the teachers--a fellow named Asa Lemm. Nobody liked
Lemm, and when Colonel Colby had a rumpus with him and made him resign,
all of us felt better."

Fortunately for the boys, an interruption came just at that moment in
the way of an announcement that dinner was ready. This was served in the
Dick Rover home, and was participated in by all of the members of the
Rover family. It made quite a table full.

"Gee! but it's nice to be here once more!" exclaimed Andy, while he was
eating.

"Beats a meal in the mess-room at the Hall all hollow, doesn't it?"
returned his twin.

"And yet you talk about going away on a hunting trip," broke in their
father quizzically.

"Oh, yes! But Uncle Tom, we are going to spend a whole week in New York
before that!" broke in Fred.

"I want to know a little more about this trip you're planning to
Snowshoe Island," remarked Dick Rover. "I want to make sure that it's a
perfectly safe place for you to visit."

"Oh, I'm sure it's safe enough," answered Jack; and thereupon he and the
others told what they knew about the island and Barney Stevenson.

"That old lumberman must be quite a character," was Dick Rover's
comment. "Well, we'll see about this trip later," and there, for the
time being, the matter was dropped.

The boys had gotten home just two days before Christmas, and they spent
their entire time the next day in shopping for presents. In this they
were partly aided by Martha and Mary, especially when it came to
selecting presents for their mothers. Then, however, they sent the girls
away, so that they might buy something for them. Although they did not
mention this, Jack also wished to get a little reminder for Ruth, while
Fred was equally desirous of obtaining something for May.

Christmas dawned bright and clear, and many were the cries of joy which
rang throughout the three Rover households. All the young folks spent
over an hour in running back and forth, wishing this one and that one
"Merry Christmas!" Then came the distribution of presents.

"Just what I wanted!" cried Fred, as he inspected his pile of gifts.
There was a new watch, some gorgeous neckties, several books, and a
splendid little double-barrelled shotgun.

"Don't say a word! It couldn't be better!" came from Randy.

"The best Christmas ever!" echoed his twin. They, too, had numerous
gifts, including little diamond stickpins, new skates, some boxing
gloves, and bright-colored sweaters, into which their cousins had
knitted the initials C. H.

"Now, I presume, you'll be real Colby Hall cadets," said their mother,
when they had donned the sweaters and were strutting around in them.

"This sure is one grand Christmas!" said Jack. He, too, had fared well,
receiving a beautiful seal ring, a new traveling bag, completely
equipped, several sets of books for which he had longed greatly, and
also a small, but first-class, repeating rifle.

"Now we've certainly got to go on that hunt," remarked Fred, placing his
new shotgun beside the new rifle.

"Right you are, Fred!" responded Jack. "But first we're going to have
one dandy time down here in New York."




CHAPTER XIX

OFF FOR SNOWSHOE ISLAND


"What an awfully large place New York is!"

It was Ruth who uttered the words while she was taking a ride down Fifth
Avenue in company with Jack and his sister and several of the others.

It was the day after Christmas, and Spouter had arrived at noon,
bringing his cousin May and Ruth with him. The young folks were taking a
ride previous to stopping at the Grand Central Terminal to meet Gif, who
was to come later.

"You won't find many places larger," answered Dick. He felt very happy
to think that Ruth was beside him, and more so because Ruth and his
sister seemed to become good friends from the very moment they met.

Behind the first auto came a second, containing Spouter, May, Mary, and
Fred. They, too, were enjoying themselves, the youngest Rover doing what
he could to point out the various places of interest to Spouter's fair
cousin.

The Rover boys, aided by Mary and Martha, had laid their plans for the
next five days with care. The young folks were to be taken to Central
and Bronx Parks, to several well-known theaters, and also to the Grand
Opera, and Mrs. Dick Rover had arranged to give a party at her home in
the visitors' honor.

Mary and Martha had been eager to hear about Clearwater Hall, and the
two girl visitors were not slow in singing the praises of that
institution.

"Oh, I think I'd like to go there!" cried Martha. "What do you think,
Mary?"

"I think I'd like to go myself, now that we know somebody there," was
her cousin's reply. Mary had always been a little shy.

During those days of pleasure in New York only one thing occurred to mar
the happiness of the young folks. That was one afternoon when all of
them went over to Central Park for a couple of hours to enjoy the
skating. There, quite unexpectedly, they ran into Nappy Martell. He
favored the Rover boys with a black look, and then lost himself in the
crowd of skaters.

"He certainly has no love for us," was Jack's comment. "If he could
possibly do us an injury, I think he would do it."

But aside from this incident the young folks had nothing to worry them,
and they spent a most agreeable time on the ice. They talked a good
deal of nonsense, and often laughed when there was no apparent cause for
so doing, but that was due entirely to their high spirits. When they
returned to the Rover homes the girls had a glow in their cheeks and a
sparkle in their eyes that made them more beautiful than ever.

"That Ruth Stevenson is certainly a handsome girl," whispered Mrs. Dick
Rover to her husband.

"So she is, Dora," answered Dick. "And if you'll notice, our Jack has
quite an eye for her," he added dryly.

"Oh, Dick! you don't suppose he's smitten with her? Why, he's so young!"

"I'm not saying anything about that, Dora. I can't help but remember
that I was smitten with you the first time I saw you," and at this Dora
Rover gave her husband a warm look that meant a great deal.

May had not forgotten her promise to her Cousin Spouter, and during the
visit she did all she could to impress on the older folks the charms of
life at Clearwater Hall. She told of what fine teachers there were at
the school, how rapidly most of the pupils advanced in their studies,
and of the good times to be had there.

"And I do hope that you will let Mary and Martha join us," she
concluded. "I am sure they will feel perfectly at home there, and that
they will be as well taught, if not better, than they would be if they
remained here in the city."

"I'll think it over, May," answered Mrs. Sam Rover; and Martha's mother
said the same.

Jack and his cousins had already sent a letter to Barney Stevenson,
completing the arrangements for going up to Snowshoe Island. Now came a
brief communication from the old lumberman, stating that he would be on
the look-out for them, and would do all he could to make their outing
enjoyable.

"What a nice letter for him to write!" exclaimed Ruth, when Jack showed
her the communication. "Oh, I do hope you'll be able to fix up this
difference between old Uncle Barney and my folks! It's dreadful to have
him on the outs with our family."

"As I said before, Ruth, I'll do what I can," Jack replied.

With so much going on, the holidays sped by swiftly, and all too soon it
was time for the visitors to take their departure. Spouter and Gif both
wished they could accompany the Rovers to Snowshoe Island, but this was
not to be, as they had already made other arrangements.

"But have a good time," said Spouter.

"Don't forget to lay low a few deer and a bear or two," added Gif.

"Good gracious! you don't expect them to shoot bears, do you?" exclaimed
May, in some alarm.

"I don't believe there are any bears on that island, are there?" came
from Ruth.

"There are very few bears anywhere," answered Jack. "Gif was only
fooling. The biggest game that we may possibly see will be a deer,
although even they are growing scarce. We may see nothing bigger than
squirrels, rabbits and partridges, and maybe a mink or a fox."

The Rover boys accompanied the others to the Grand Central Terminal.
Here Jack managed to have a few words in private with Ruth, and at the
conclusion he gave her hand so tight a squeeze that she blushed. Then
the visitors boarded the train and in a minute more were gone.

"And now to get ready for the trip to Snowshoe Island!" cried Randy.

"That's the talk!" returned his twin.

The boys were to leave for Rockville, the nearest railroad station to
Snowshoe Island, on the day after New Year's. They spent several hours
in packing their things, being advised in that matter by their fathers,
who, as my old readers know, had been on many hunting expeditions before
them.

"Now, there is no use of my giving you any advice on how to handle your
firearms," said Dick Rover. "I have given you that advice before, and
you ought to remember what I said."

"I do, Dad," answered his son. "And I'm sure the others remember, too."

"And I want you two boys to keep out of mischief," put in Tom Rover,
addressing his twins. "Of course, you can have all the fun you please,
but let it be good, innocent nonsense. Don't do anything mean, and don't
do anything to get somebody else into trouble."

"And my advice is, to go slow and be careful," added Sam Rover. "In
other words: 'Look before you leap'----"

"As the clown in the circus said," finished Tom Rover, "when he thought
he was going to jump through a paper hoop and found instead that it was
a solid white barrel-head;" and at this little joke there was a general
laugh.

The boys had already told their fathers about the doings of Nappy
Martell and Slugger Brown.

"Nappy Martell is evidently the son of his father," remarked Dick Rover.
"The senior Martell is just as domineering, and not one bit more
reliable. Down in Wall Street we've been watching him pretty closely."

"Yes, and he needed watching," put in Tom Rover. "To my mind, if he
isn't a fraud, he's pretty close to it."

"You said something about his underhanded work before," came from Sam.
"If he is a swindler, I certainly hope that sooner or later they expose
him."

The boys had learned that Rockville was a town of considerable
importance and boasted of several good-sized stores. They felt certain
that they could buy all the supplies needed at that place, so it would
be unnecessary to get them in New York. They, however, took along all
the clothing that was needed, and likewise their guns and a good supply
of ammunition.

"Now do be careful!" pleaded Mrs. Tom Rover, when they were ready to
depart. "I don't want any of you to get shot."

"Don't you worry, Ma. We'll be careful all right enough," answered
Randy, as he kissed her good-bye.

Several of the neighboring boys had come to see them off, and there was
a little bit of envy as these watched the Rovers depart. They went to
the railroad station in one of the limousines, only the two girls going
with them to see them off.

"Now don't get hurt, Jack," said Martha, when it was almost time for him
to take the train. "Remember, if you do, Ruth will never forgive
you," and she gave her brother a roguish look which, somehow, made his
cheeks burn.

[Illustration: "WHAT A NICE LETTER FOR HIM TO WRITE!" EXCLAIMED RUTH.

_Page 191_]

"Aw, cut that, Martha!" he answered. And then, of a sudden, he
continued: "You join those girls at Clearwater Hall, and I'll pick a
fine cadet for you to go out with."

"Boo!" cried Martha, and put out the tip of her tongue at him. "Who said
I wanted any of your old cadets!" Then, as he and his cousins ran for
the train, she waved him an affectionate farewell.

The boys had obtained seats in advance in one of the parlor cars, and
soon they made themselves comfortable. They talked over what had
happened while their visitors had been with them, and presently
commenced to discuss the expected hunting on and around Snowshoe Island.

"We ought to have a dandy two weeks," was Fred's comment. "Just think of
it! For fourteen days we'll be able to do exactly as we please!"

"Yum-yum!" added Randy. "Sleep as long as you please, eat when you
please and as much as you please, and shoot all the game you want to!
What more could a fellow want?"

"And cut all the firewood you want to! And wash all the dirty dishes you
want to! And miss all the really good game you want to----" commenced
Andy.

"Jump on him!"

"Throw him out of the window!"

"Let's make him go without his supper to-night!"

So the cries went on as the three others caught Andy by the arms and by
the coat collar.

"Hold up! I surrender!" gasped the fun-loving youth. "Let up! will you?"

"You've got to promise to be good and not throw cold water on our
hopes," announced Jack. "We're going to have the best time ever on
Snowshoe Island. And not a thing is going to happen to mar our
pleasure."

But in this last surmise the oldest Rover boy was sadly mistaken. Many
things of which he and his cousins did not dream were to occur, not only
to startle and annoy them, but also to place them in extreme peril.




CHAPTER XX

CAUGHT IN A SNOWSTORM


"Next station stop Rockville!"

"That's our jumping off place, boys! We had better get our baggage
together!" exclaimed Jack.

"I wonder if Barney Stevenson will be at the station to meet us?"
questioned Fred.

"That depends on whether he got my last message or not," answered Jack.
"However, if he isn't there, I guess we can find our way to Snowshoe
Island alone."

Soon the long train rolled into the little station at Rockville, and the
boys alighted, being assisted by the porter, who had already taken
charge of their baggage. He readily accepted the tip they gave him, and,
as he had learned that they were off on a little hunting tour, said he
hoped they would have every success.

"But don't you bring down too many lions and elephants," added the
colored man.

"No, we'll leave the lions and elephants for you," returned Andy, and
this made the porter grin broadly, showing two rows of white ivories.

"Hello, boys! So you've got here at last, eh?" cried a voice from the
doorway of the railroad station, and old Barney Stevenson strode toward
them. He looked the picture of health, having recovered entirely from
the accident in the woods. He shook hands cordially, giving each hand a
squeeze that made the recipient wince.

"We're glad to see you, Mr. Stevenson," began Fred, when up went the old
lumberman's hand in protest.

"'Twon't do, boys! 'Twon't do at all! If you're going to come over to
Snowshoe Island with me, you've got to drop that Mister business. Plain
Uncle Barney is good enough for me."

"All right, then! Uncle Barney it is!" answered Fred, and the others
smiled and nodded.

"I just got your message this noon," explained the old lumberman. "Billy
Sanders, the station agent's son, brought it over to me. I see you've
got your duffle with you," and he looked at their various bags.

"We didn't bring anything along in the way of provisions," answered
Randy. "We thought we could buy all those things here in town."

"So you can--providing you've got the money, lad;" and Uncle Barney
smiled.

"Oh, we've got the money!" answered Andy. "Our folks treated us very
handsomely."

"I brought over my big bobsled," went on the old lumberman. "Come
ahead--I'll help you carry your baggage. We can leave it all at
Crumpers' boathouse until we get the other stuff."

He led the way, and they soon found themselves at the boathouse he had
mentioned. Here they placed their traveling bags on Uncle Barney's
bobsled, and then made their way to a nearby general store, where the
old fellow was well known.

"We've got a list written out here," explained Jack, bringing it forth.
"I'll read it to you, and then you can tell me what you think of it."

The list was quite a long one, and the old lumberman listened
attentively as Jack read it over. Then he nodded approvingly.

"You've got it about right, boys," he said. "You must have been out
before."

"My dad helped me make out this list," explained Dick. "He and my uncles
have had quite some experience hunting, and, of course, they knew just
what to take along."

"Do you think it will be enough?" questioned Randy anxiously. His
appetite for eating never seemed to be lacking.

"You've got enough there for six or eight," answered the old lumberman.
"However, it won't do any harm to add a few more beans and a little
extra bacon; likewise a little more sugar, seeing as how boys generally
like things sweet."

It was an easy matter to purchase the various articles at the general
store, and the boys had the clerk pack them securely in several soap
boxes. Then Jack, as the treasurer for the crowd, paid the bill.

By this time it was growing dark, and Uncle Barney told them they had
better not waste their time.

"I may be mistaken, but it looks a good deal like another snowstorm to
me," he explained. "And if it's going to snow, we might as well get to
the island before it starts to come down too hard."

The old lumberman was right about the snow, and some early flakes came
sifting down while they were still at the boathouse packing the bobsled.
The old lumberman showed them how to secure the load so that there would
be no danger of its falling off.

"Now then, on with your skates, and we'll be off," he announced. In the
winter time he always made the journey between the island and the town
on his steel runners.

"I suppose skating is a good deal easier than walking," remarked Fred,
while the boys were putting on their skates.

"To be sure. And we can make so much better time."

"How far have we got to go?" questioned Andy.

"To the upper end of the island, where I've got my home, is about four
miles."

"Oh, that isn't so far!" cried Fred. "We can skate that in no time."

"We could if we could go in a straight line. But we can't," answered
Uncle Barney. "The wind blew the last snow in all sorts of ridges across
the ice, and we'll have to pick our way along as best we can."

A long rope had been attached to the bobsled, so that they could all
assist in hauling it along. On the smooth ice the load proved to be a
light one, so that they had little difficulty in progressing. But, as
the old lumberman had said, the ridges of snow on the lake were
numerous, and some of these were piled up several feet high, and the
party had to make long detours around them.

"This isn't going to be so easy, after all," remarked Fred, after they
had skated for almost half an hour. "I thought we would get to Snowshoe
Island in no time."

It was now quite dark, and the snow was falling steadily. So far, there
had been little wind, but now this, too, sprang up, sending the frozen
particles directly into their faces.

"Gee! this isn't so pleasant!" exclaimed Andy, as he pulled down his cap
and pulled up the sweater he was wearing.

"The wind is increasing," said Fred a minute later. "Hark to that, will
you?"

All listened, and from a distance heard the wind stirring through the
woods bordering the lake in that vicinity. Then the wind bore down upon
them, and with it came a heavier fall of snow.

"Say, this is going to be some snowstorm!"

"Yes, and some blow too!"

"I wish it wasn't so dark!"

"Uncle Barney, are you sure you know the way?" questioned Randy, as all
came to a halt for a moment to turn their backs to the wind and catch
their breath.

"Oh, yes, my lad! I know the way well enough," was the old lumberman's
reply. "But, believe me, I didn't expect any such snowstorm as this when
I went after you. I thought it would be just an ordinary fall."

"It seems to be getting heavier every minute," declared Jack, as he
sheltered his eyes with his hand and tried to peer forth into the
darkness. "Why, the snow is coming down in regular chunks!"

The flakes were indeed both heavy and thick, and the wind sent the snow
sweeping across the ice, forming new ridges in every direction.

"The first thing you know, we'll be blocked completely," declared Randy,
after they had progressed another quarter of a mile. "Just look at that
wall of snow, will you?" and he pointed ahead, where a snowdrift was all
of five feet high and rapidly growing higher.

The Rovers could see by his manner that the old lumberman was growing
much disturbed. He led the way first in one direction and then in
another. Then presently he called a halt.

"It ain't no use," he declared flatly. "I thought I could work my way
around these snowdrifts, the same as I did when I came over to town
after you. But the darkness and this heavy fall of snow is bothering me
tremendously."

"What do you think we ought to do?" questioned Fred anxiously. The
situation was making the youngest Rover boy a little fearful.

"I guess about the best thing we can do is to strike a bee-line for the
island," answered Uncle Barney. "It won't be much harder to break
through these snowdrifts than it is to try to find our way around them
in this wind and darkness."

"Are you sure you know the way to the island?" questioned Jack, who knew
only too well that it was the easiest thing in the world to get turned
around in such a situation as this.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure I haven't lost my bearings," answered the old
lumberman. "However, to make sure, maybe I had better have a squint at
my compass."

"Oh, say! that puts me in mind!" burst out Randy. "What's the matter
with using one of our flashlights?" for the boys had brought along two
of those useful articles, which were now packed in the baggage on the
bobsled.

"Yes, let's get out both of the flashlights," returned Fred. "In this
darkness we'll want all the light we can get."

Sheltering themselves as best they could from the wind, which seemed
every minute to be increasing in violence, the boys unstrapped part of
their load and managed to bring forth the two flashlights. While this
was being done, Uncle Barney brought from his pocket a small compass.

"Now, I think north is in that direction," he said, pointing with his
hand. With the aid of one of the lights, the compass was inspected, and
it was found that the old lumberman was almost right, he having pointed
a little to the northwest.

"If we'd gone on the way I expected to go, we'd have struck the lower
end of the island instead of the upper," he explained. "It wouldn't have
made a great deal of difference, but we might as well take the
straightest line we know how. Come on! Follow me, and I'll break the way
for you."

Once more they started forward, and in a minute more the boys found
themselves struggling through snow which was several feet deep.

"Gee! a fellow ought to have snowshoes instead of skates!" panted Fred,
when in the midst of the drift. "This is the worst ever!"

"The drift isn't very wide, Fred," announced Jack, who was ahead of his
cousin, flashing one of the lights around. "Here we come to the clear
ice again," and a few seconds later they found themselves skating along
as easily as before.

But this open patch did not last long. Soon they came to several more
snowdrifts. The first was barely a foot high, but the second was almost
up to their arm-pits. The old lumberman was still ahead, breaking a path
for them as well as he was able. Hampered with the load of the bobsled,
the boys made slow progress.

"It's no use!" groaned Andy at last. "I'm all out of breath. I've got to
stop and rest."

"We had better not stop to rest here, Andy," answered Jack quickly. "We
must reach some sort of shelter from this wind."

"I'm all out of breath myself," came from Fred. The exertion of plowing
through the snowdrifts had tired him dreadfully, and he was trembling in
the legs so that he could scarcely stand.

"Come on, boys! Don't stay here!" called back Uncle Barney to them.
"This snowstorm is getting worse every minute!"

The old lumberman had scarcely spoken when all the boys heard a strange
whistling in the air. Then the wind tore down upon them harder than
ever, sending the snowy particles in all directions, so that to make out
what was ahead, even with the flashlights, was out of the question.




CHAPTER XXI

AN ASTONISHING REVELATION


The situation was certainly a disheartening one, and the boys huddled
close together around the bobsled, both for protection and to talk the
matter over.

"Can you tell us at all how far we really are from some sort of
shelter--I mean the nearest shelter at hand?" questioned Jack of Uncle
Barney, as the old lumberman came back to see what had happened.

"It's about a mile to my cabin," was the reply.

"And is that the nearest place?" asked Fred, who had sat down on the
bobsled load to rest.

"No. The nearest place is a little hut that I put up at this end of the
island several years ago. It isn't very much of a shelter, but it might
do."

"Do you mean we could stay there all night?" queried Randy.

"Oh, yes. It's plenty large enough for all of us, and there is a rough
fireplace where we could start a blaze and cook something."

"Then let's head for that place, by all means!" cried Jack. "This storm
is getting worse every minute."

With the wind whistling keenly in their ears and blowing the snow across
the ice and into numerous high drifts, the little party moved on once
more, the boys doing their best to keep up with the old lumberman. This
was comparatively easy, for even Uncle Barney was well-nigh exhausted by
his exertions.

"If this snow keeps on, it will be one of the worst storms we ever had
up here," he announced. "But, somehow, I don't think it will last; the
sky didn't look heavy enough this afternoon."

"I hope it doesn't last," returned Jack.

"We don't want to be snowed in while we are up here," added Randy. "We
want to have a chance to hunt."

To make progress against the fury of the elements was not easy, but
presently the boys heard Uncle Barney give a cry of satisfaction.

"Here we are, lads, in sight of the island!" exclaimed the old
lumberman. "Now it won't be long before we reach that shelter I
mentioned."

By the aid of the two flashlights, the boys made out a number of trees
and bushes ahead. The bushes were covered thickly with snow, and behind
them were sharp rocks, also outlined in white.

"This is what I call Squirrel Point," explained the old lumberman. "It
used to be a great place for squirrels."

"How much further to that shelter?" queried Fred. Just then he took no
interest whatever in game. He was so tired he could scarcely place one
foot in front of the other; and, to tell the truth, his cousins were
little better off.

"We've got only a couple of hundred feet to go," was the reply. "Come
ahead. I'll help you pull that bobsled," and now Uncle Barney took hold,
and once again they started forward, this time skirting the lower
extremity of Snowshoe Island. Here there were a great number of pines
and hemlocks growing amid a perfect wilderness of rocks, now all thickly
covered with snow.

"Now you'll have a little climbing to do," announced the old lumberman a
few minutes later. "You might as well take off your skates, and I'll do
the same. And we'll have to hoist that bobsled up the best we know how."

He had turned toward the island, and soon they were climbing up over the
rough rocks and pulling the bobsled after them. In one spot they had to
raise the sled up over their heads. The old lumberman assisted them in
this task, and then pointed to a small, cleared space between a number
of pines.

"Hurrah! I see the hut!" cried Jack in delight, and ran forward,
followed by his cousins. Uncle Barney came with them, and an instant
later had forced open a rude door. Then one of the lights was flashed
inside.

The boys and Uncle Barney had expected to find the little cabin vacant.
Consequently they were much surprised when they heard a queer little
noise, not unlike the snarl of a dog.

"By gum! it's a wolf!" ejaculated the old lumberman in amazement.

Scarcely had he spoken when there leaped into view a full-grown wolf. As
he confronted the boys and the old man, he snarled viciously, and his
eyes appeared to gleam like two balls of fire.

"It's a wolf, sure enough!"

"Shoot him, somebody! Shoot him!"

"Where's my gun?"

"The guns are all strapped down on the bobsled!"

Such were some of the cries which came from the Rover boys when they
found themselves confronted by the wolf. They fell back several paces,
and Uncle Barney did likewise. The old lumberman had gone to Rockville
armed, but he too had strapped his weapon fast on the bobsled, so that
he might assist the boys in hauling the load.

As the little party fell back wondering what was best to do, the wolf
gave another leap, thereby reaching the doorway of the little cabin.
Then, with a snarl, he whirled around, leaped into the snow behind some
hemlocks, and in a moment more had disappeared from view.

"Well, what do you know about that!" cried Fred faintly.

"And to think we weren't ready to shoot!" groaned Randy.

"We're a fine bunch of hunters, we are!" scoffed Andy.

"Well, we didn't expect to find a wolf in possession of this hut,"
remarked Jack. "Just the same, I wish we had been able to get a shot at
him," he added wistfully.

"I should have carried my gun," remarked Uncle Barney. "It was a mistake
to put it on the sled. That's just my luck, confound it! Whenever I go
out free-handed, I'm almost certain to see something worth shooting,"
and he shook his head grimly.

"You didn't say anything about wolves being on the island," said Fred,
while the old man was looking around inside the cabin with both
flashlights.

"There are very few wolves in this neighborhood," was the reply. "The
last wolf I saw on the island, outside of this one, was two years ago."

As the door to the cabin had been closed, the boys wondered how the wolf
had gotten into the place, but Uncle Barney showed them a small,
broken-out window in the rear of the shelter. This window was now partly
covered with snow.

"I suppose the wolf thought he couldn't get out that way on account of
the snow, and consequently he had to come by way of the door," explained
the old lumberman. "Well, I'm mighty glad he didn't go any damage."

An examination revealed the fact that no other living thing was in or
around the cabin, and as soon as they were satisfied of this, the boys
brought in the bobsled. In the meantime, Uncle Barney stirred around
outside and managed to find some firewood which was fairly dry. Then a
blaze was started in the rude fireplace, the door was shut, and a
blanket was nailed up over the broken-out window.

"Now this is something like!" remarked Jack, when the cabin began to
grow warm. The boys had unpacked the contents of the bobsled and brought
forth a candle, which was lighted and placed in a rude holder on the
wall.

Now that they were safe from the storm, all of the Rovers felt in better
humor. Uncle Barney showed them how they could obtain water by melting
some snow and ice, and soon they had enough to make a pot of chocolate
and another pot of coffee. In the meantime, the old lumberman, assisted
by Jack, opened up a box of sardines fried some bacon, and also warmed
up a can of green corn which had been among the stores. They had no
bread, so they used up one of the boxes of soda crackers which they had
purchased.

"It's too bad we haven't got some game to cook," observed Randy.

"Let's be thankful that we've got some sort of a roof over our heads,
and that we can rest," put in Fred. He had not yet gotten over the
struggle to get through the snow.

With nothing else to do, the boys and the old lumberman took their time
over the evening meal, and never had anything tasted better than did
this first supper on Snowshoe Island to the Rovers.

Outside the wind was blowing as strongly as ever, and the snow still
came down steadily. To make sure that they would not suffer from the
cold, all of the lads went out with Uncle Barney and brought in a large
supply of firewood. Then they built up a good blaze, around which they
sat in a semicircle on the sled and the boxes brought along, and on a
rude bench of which the little cabin boasted.

"When I first came to Snowshoe Island, twelve years ago, I thought I
would locate at this end," remarked Barney Stevenson during the course
of the conversation. "But after staying here a short while I concluded
that it was nicer at the upper end, so I went there."

"Did you buy the island as far back as that?" queried Jack.

"Oh, no, lad. In those days I only leased the island. You see, it
belonged to an old lady named Martinson. She had a son who drifted out
to California, and then went to Alaska. When the old lady died, Luke
Martinson came back home, and then he came to see me. He wanted to get
rid of all his property around here so he could go back to Alaska, and
he offered this place to me, and I bought it. That was several years
ago."

"It's nice to own an island like this," observed Fred. "A fellow can
have a regular Robinson Crusoe time of it if he wants to."

"When I bought the island I thought I'd have no difficulty in holding
it," continued Barney Stevenson. "But since that time I have had a whole
lot of trouble. Two men claim that Luke Martinson never had any rights
here--that the old Martinson claim to the island was a false one. They
have tried two or three times to get me off the place, but I've refused
to go."

"Didn't you get a deed to the island?" questioned Jack, who had often
heard his father and his uncles speak about deeds to real estate.

"Certainly, I got a deed! But they claim that the old Martinson deed was
no good. But it is good--and I know it!" grumbled Uncle Barney.

"Who are the men who want to take the island away from you?" questioned
Andy. "Some hunters around here, or lumbermen?"

"Oh no! They are two men from the city--a real estate dealer and a man
who used to be interested in buying and selling property, but who lost
most of his fortune and then went to teaching, or something like that."

"Teaching!" exclaimed Jack, struck by a sudden idea. "What is that man's
name, if I may ask?"

"His name is Asa Lemm, and the name of the other man is Slogwell Brown,"
was the reply of the old lumberman, which filled the Rover boys with
amazement.




CHAPTER XXII

THE FIRST NIGHT ON THE ISLAND


"Asa Lemm and Slogwell Brown!"

"What do you know about that, boys?"

"That's bringing this matter pretty close to us, isn't it?"

"I should say so!"

Such were some of the remarks coming from the Rover boys after Barney
Stevenson had made his astonishing declaration that the father of
Slugger Brown and the ex-teacher of Colby Hall were the two men who were
trying to dispossess him.

"Why, you speak as if you knew those two men!" exclaimed the old
lumberman.

"We certainly know Asa Lemm," answered Jack.

"And we know the son of Slogwell Brown," added Randy.

"Yes, and if Mr. Brown is no better than his son, I wouldn't put it past
him to do something crooked," was Andy's comment.

"Tell me what you know," said Uncle Barney.

Thereupon the four boys related the particulars of the trouble they had
had with Professor Lemm, and of how he had left the military academy.
They also told much about Slugger, and, incidentally, Nappy Martell, and
of how the two cadets had been dismissed by Colonel Colby.

"This certainly is wonderful!" exclaimed the old lumberman, when they
had finished. "I had no idea you boys knew anything about those men. I
reckon your opinion of their honesty is just about as high as mine is,"
and he smiled grimly.

"Asa Lemm claims to have lost quite a fortune," said Jack; "but we
certainly did not think that part of it was located in this island."

"It isn't located in this island--at least it isn't so far as I am
concerned!" cried Uncle Barney. "If those men bought what they thought
were the rights to this island, they were defrauded, that's all! And
that has absolutely nothing to do with my rights to this land!"

"I should think if you got a good deed to the land from that Luke
Martinson--and his folks had a good deed from somebody else--that ought
to be proof enough that you own the island."

"Well, I've got the deed from Martinson, and I've got the old deeds he
used to have, too! I've got them placed away in a tin box and in a safe
place, too!" answered the old man.

"Then, if you've got those deeds, why do they bother you?" questioned
Fred.

"As I've said before, they won't admit that the deeds old Mrs. Martinson
had were any good. The fact of the matter is, Slogwell Brown wants to
get those deeds away from me. He has been at me to let him look at the
deeds several times, but I've always refused, for I was afraid that if
he got the deeds away from me I would never see them again."

"I thought they recorded deeds at the Court House," said Jack, who had
heard this fact mentioned between his father and his uncles.

"They do record deeds, and I suppose that one was recorded at some time
or other; but the Court House in this county was burnt down some years
ago and all the records went up in smoke."

"But you could get the deeds recorded now--I mean have it done over
again," remarked Randy.

"I suppose so. But that wouldn't do me any good, because they would
probably try to prove that the deeds I brought in were not the
originals. You see, the date when a deed is recorded has a good deal to
do with it. Anyway, I'm not going to let anybody have those deeds until
I am sure of what I'm doing," went on Uncle Barney. It was easy to see
that the old man was peculiar and wanted to do things in his own
manner.

"Did you ever ask a lawyer about this?" questioned Fred.

"No! I ain't got no use for lawyers!" was the quick reply. "I hired a
lawyer in a lawsuit nigh on to thirteen years ago, and I lost the suit
and it cost me over a hundred dollars more than I might have paid
otherwise." The old lumberman did not add that this was a lawsuit to
which Ruth Stevenson's father was also a party, yet such was the fact.

"How long is it since you heard from Mr. Brown and Professor Lemm?"
asked Andy.

"The last time they came to see me was in the middle of the summer. They
threatened all sorts of things, and they got me so mad that I had to
take down my shotgun and warn them away. Then they left in a big hurry."

"Don't you think it's a bad thing to warn them off with a gun?"
questioned Jack. "They might have you arrested for threatening their
lives."

"I'm not afraid of them!" was the quick reply. "This is my island, and
nobody shall take it away from me!"

The boys could see that the subject was becoming distasteful to the old
man, and so they started to speak of other things. They questioned him
about how they could get to his regular cabin, and also the cabin they
were to occupy, and then spoke about the game they might have a chance
to bring down.

"Your going hunting will depend a good deal on how the weather turns
out," said the old lumberman. "If this snow keeps on for a day or two,
it will make traveling pretty bad. However, I'm in hopes that the storm
will clear away by morning."

The boys had put in a strenuous day, and they were glad enough when
Uncle Barney suggested that they turn in for the night.

"We're pretty short on blankets," he said, "but that won't matter so
much so long as we keep the fire going. I've got a good back log
started, and that ought to last until morning, if not longer. When I'm
at this hut alone, I usually sleep in that corner, and I'll do the same
to-night. You can spread yourselves around as you please."

With such a limited supply of blankets, it was no easy matter to make
comfortable couches, yet the boys had left home to rough it, so nobody
complained. They lay down in their clothing, using some of their
suitcases and Gladstone bags for pillows.

"If we had had a chance to do so, we might have brought in some pine
boughs to lie on," said Jack. "But as it is, I guess we'll manage."

"Is there any chance of that wolf coming back?" questioned Fred, a bit
anxiously.

"I hardly think so, Fred. And, anyway, I don't see how he's going to get
in here, with the door closed and the blanket nailed over the window.
However, we can keep our guns handy in case he does appear."

Worn out so completely, it did not take the boys long to fall into a
sound sleep, and the old lumberman soon joined them, snoring lustily.
Thus the night passed, and nothing came to disturb them.