Of the lads, it was Randy who was the first to arise in the morning. He
found Uncle Barney in the act of stirring up the fire. The old lumberman
had already brought in some ice to be melted for a pot of coffee.

"I ain't really awake in the morning until after I've had my cup of
coffee," he explained. "That's the one thing that really sets me on my
feet."

"How about the storm?" questioned Randy, and now the sound of his voice
set the others to stirring.

"The storm is about over," was the welcome announcement. "In a little
while I think you'll see the sun peeping out over the woods on the
eastern shore."

"Hurrah! that's good news!" cried Andy, leaping to his feet and
stretching himself. "I must have a look!" and, jamming his cap on his
head, he started for the door. The other Rovers followed him.

Outside they found the snow covering everything to a depth of from
several inches to several feet, but the air was as clear as a bell, and
just beyond the woods, on the eastern shore of Lake Monona, there was a
rosy glow, betokening the rising of the sun.

"It's going to be a grand day!" exclaimed Fred.

"I don't think it could be any better, even though the snow is quite
deep in spots," returned Jack.

Once more they went over the stores which had been brought along, and
took out enough for breakfast. They had with them some flour for griddle
cakes, and soon the appetizing odor of the cakes, mingling with the
aroma of hot coffee and hot chocolate, filled the little cabin. Then
they took turns at frying bacon and making more griddle cakes and eating
breakfast.

"What do you think will be the easiest way of getting to the other end
of the island?" questioned Jack of Uncle Barney, while they were eating.

"Well, as you've got the bobsled and all those stores along, I should
say the easiest way would be to climb down to the lake again," was the
reply. "That wind must have cleaned off some of the ice, and we can get
along a good deal better by skating and by hauling the bobsled over the
ice than we can trying to break our way through the woods in this heavy
fall of snow."

"I was thinking if we walked the length of the island we might stir up
some game," remarked Randy.

"You'll have plenty of chances to go out after game after you're settled
at the regular camp," returned the old lumberman. "The game isn't going
to run away, you know," and he smiled pleasantly.

Breakfast at an end, the boys lost no time in repacking their
belongings, and Uncle Barney assisted them in fastening the load to the
bobsled.

"But I'm going to carry my shotgun this time," announced Fred. "Then, if
any game appears, I'll be ready for it."

"You can all carry your guns if you want to," said the owner of the
island. "I'll leave my weapon strapped to the sled, so that if any game
appears you boys can do the shooting."

The little cabin was closed up, and then the party made its way down
over the rough rocks and between the trees to the lake shore. It was no
easy matter to bring the bobsled along, and once Fred slipped on one of
the smooth rocks and pitched headlong into a snowbank.

"Hi you! stop your fooling!" cried Andy, and then, in great glee, he
picked up a chunk of snow and hurled it at Jack.

"Let up!" cried the oldest Rover boy. "This is no time for jokes!" and
then, as Andy came at him with another chunk of snow, he jumped at his
cousin, put out his foot, and made the fun-loving youth measure his
length in a drift.

"Wow! but that snow is cold!" cried Andy, who had gotten some down the
sleeves of his sweater. "Stop! Don't bury me! I'll be good!" And then he
scrambled to his feet once more, while Fred did the same. Then the whole
party proceeded on its way.

Reaching the lake, they lost no time in putting on their skates, and
then, with Uncle Barney leading the way, the four Rovers followed,
dragging the loaded bobsled behind them.

On all sides could be seen snowdrifts and ridges of snow piled in
curiously fantastic shapes. But the keen wind of the afternoon and night
had cleared many long reaches of the ice, and over these reaches Uncle
Barney picked his way, gradually working closer and closer to the upper
end of Snowshoe Island.

"We'll turn in here," he announced presently, when they came to where
there was something of a cove. "There seems to be quite a cleared space.
It won't be very long now before we reach the upper end."

As they turned in once more toward the island, Jack noticed a peculiar
fluttering among some trees not far away.

"Wait a minute!" he cried out in a low tone. "I think I see some game!"

All came to a halt, and then Uncle Barney looked in the direction to
which the oldest Rover boy pointed.

"You are right, my lad," answered the old lumberman. "There is a fine
chance for all of you."

"What are they?" questioned Fred a trifle excitedly.

"Wild turkeys! And the best kind of eating--if you can only get close
enough to bring them down."




CHAPTER XXIII

UNEXPECTED VISITORS


"Oh, say! we've got to bring down at least one of those wild turkeys!"
cried Andy.

"Keep quiet," admonished Jack, speaking in a whisper. "If those turkeys
hear you they'll be gone in a jiffy."

"I didn't know there were any wild turkeys around here," remarked Randy.
"I thought they had been all cleaned out long ago."

"They are getting very scarce," answered Uncle Barney, "but once in a
while you will see a small flock of them. I was after that flock about a
week ago, but they got away from me. I've a notion that it's about the
last flock in this district."

While this talk was going on in low tones of voice, all of the Rovers
had abandoned the bobsled and were moving toward the shore of the
island.

"You had better come this way and crawl up in the shelter of yonder
rocks and brushwood," advised Uncle Barney. "And don't shoot until you
have a good aim and know what you're shooting at," he concluded.

It must be admitted that all of the boys were somewhat excited over the
prospect ahead. They caught only a brief glance at the game, but felt
certain that it was close at hand.

"Wild turkeys are a good sight better than rabbits or squirrels, or even
pheasants," said Fred. "They'll make dandy eating."

"Don't eat them until after you have shot them, Fred," remarked Andy
dryly.

"Hush," warned Jack. "Now, make as little noise as possible, and each of
you hold his gun ready for use."

They had not stopped to take off their skates, but this was unnecessary,
for the snow was deep and the skates merely kept them from slipping.
They pushed on around some large rocks, and then in between the thick
brushwood, where the snow fell upon their heads and shoulders, covering
them with white--something which was to their advantage, as it aided
them in hiding themselves from the game. Not far away they could hear
the wild turkeys, one in particular giving the peculiar gobble by which
they are well known.

"I see them," whispered Fred a minute later, and pointed with his gun.

There in a little clearing some distance ahead was a tall and long
turkey gobbler surrounded by a number of hens. They were plump and of a
peculiar black and bronzed color.

"Let's all fire together. Maybe we can bring down the whole flock!"
exclaimed Randy, and his manner showed that he was growing quite
excited.

"All right--I'm willing," answered Jack. "But let us see if we can't get
a little nearer first."

"Maybe if we try to get closer they'll get away from us," said Andy.

"Keep your guns pointed at them, and if they start to leave fire as
quickly as you can," answered Jack, and then he moved forward with his
cousins ranged on either side of him.

The Rover boys had advanced but a few paces when the wild turkeys caught
sight of them. The turkey cock issued a loud note of alarm, and all
started to fly from the low bushes upon which they had been resting.

"Fire!" yelled Jack, and discharged his rifle.

The crack of this weapon was followed by the report of Fred's shotgun,
and then the twins also let drive. Then Fred fired again, and so did
some of the others.

At the first report the turkey cock was seen to rise in the air,
followed by some of the hens, while two hens dropped lifeless in the
snow. The turkey cock, however, was seriously wounded and fluttered
around in a circle.

"Give him another shot!" yelled Fred, whose gun was empty; and thereupon
Jack and Randy fired and the gobbler fell directly at their feet. He was
not yet dead, but they quickly put him out of his misery by wringing his
neck. By this time the hens which had flown away were out of sight.

"Two hens and one gobbler!" cried Jack, as he surveyed the game. "I
think we can congratulate ourselves on this haul."

"You certainly can!" exclaimed Uncle Barney, as he plowed up behind the
boys. "Wild turkeys are no mean game to bring down, let me tell you!
I've tried time and again to get a turkey, and somehow or other it would
always get away from me."

"Some size to this gobbler!" remarked Fred. "And some weight, too," he
added, as he picked the turkey cock up by the legs.

"He'll weigh sixteen or eighteen pounds at least," said the old
lumberman, as he took the turkey cock from the youngest Rover boy and
held the game out in both hands. "Yes, sir! every bit of eighteen--and
he may go twenty. You'll have a dandy meal off of him."

"I know what I'd like to do," said Randy wistfully. "I'd like to send
him home to the folks."

"That's the talk!" returned his twin. "Why can't we do it?"

"I'm willing," answered Jack. "The express company ought to know how to
pack game like that so it will carry properly."

"They'll pack anything you want them to down at the railroad station,"
said Uncle Barney. "There is a man there who makes a specialty of that
sort of thing for hunters. He'll see that the turkey reaches your folks
in New York in first-class shape."

"We can send the gobbler home and keep the two hens," said Fred. "That
will make eating enough for us, I'm sure. They must weigh at least seven
or eight pounds apiece."

"All of that," came from the old lumberman.

Much elated over the success of their first effort at hunting on
Snowshoe Island, the Rovers picked up the game and made their way back
to where they had left the bobsled. They placed the turkeys on the sled,
and then resumed their journey once more.

"We're coming up to the end of the island now," announced Barney
Stevenson presently, and a minute later they made a turn around some
trees lining the shore and came into view of a cleared spot, containing
a small boat-landing. Beyond the cleared spot, backed up by some tall
pines and hemlocks, were two fair-sized cabins, standing about a
hundred feet apart.

"That's the cabin I use," explained the old lumberman, pointing to the
building on the right. "The other is the one you can make yourselves at
home in."

The setting for the two cabins was an ideal one, and the boys could well
imagine how beautiful the place must look in the summer time with the
green trees, and the cleared space sloping down to the great lake. Now,
of course, the ground, as well as the trees and brushwood, was heavily
covered with snow, and the snow hung down off the rough roof of each
cabin.

"I'll take you directly over to the cabin you are to occupy," said Uncle
Barney. "I've got it all in shape for you, with plenty of firewood and
everything."

He led the way, and they followed, dragging the bobsled behind them. The
door to the cabin had been locked, for the old lumberman stated that he
did not wish any outside hunters or other people to take possession
during his absence.

"Of course, a good many of the hunters and lumberman are my friends," he
explained. "But then there are often strangers, and some of those
fellows wouldn't be above carrying off anything that suited their
fancy."

The boys gave cries of delight when he took them into the cabin which
they were to occupy during their stay on the island. They found it a
fairly large place, divided into two rooms, one a general living-room
and the other a sleeping apartment. In the former was located a fairly
well-made table, a couple of benches, and also a swinging shelf,
containing quite an assortment of dishes, while at one side there was a
big open fireplace, and in a corner a small closet furnished with
numerous kitchen utensils.

The other apartment contained three regular bunks and a temporary one
put in for the occasion; and these bunks were well spread with fresh
pine boughs and camp blankets. The opening from one room into the next
was so located that the warmth from the fire in the living-room could
easily reach the sleeping apartment.

"Say, this is bang-up!" exclaimed Randy.

"It's the best ever!" echoed Fred.

"It's a peach!" was Andy's comment.

"I certainly didn't expect anything half as good as this, Uncle Barney,"
remarked Jack, his eyes showing his pleasure. "If we don't have a good
time here, it certainly won't be your fault."

"Then you really like it, do you, boys?" asked the old lumberman
anxiously.

"I certainly don't know how it could be better," remarked Randy. "And
just look at the dishes and things to cook with!"

"And these fine bunks!" exclaimed his twin, sitting down on one. "Why,
this is just as good as a hair mattress!"

"And how sweet the pine boughs smell!" murmured Fred.

"If you boys want to send that turkey cock home, you had better let me
take it down to Rockville to-day," said the old lumberman. "I won't mind
the trip at all," he added, as he saw that some of them were going to
remonstrate. "Fact is, I forgot to get some of the things I was going to
buy yesterday. So if you'll just make yourselves at home here, I'll go
down there and be back some time before nightfall."

"Don't you want to wait until after dinner?" questioned Jack.

"No. I'll get something to eat while I'm in town."

The matter was talked over, and it was finally arranged that Barney
Stevenson should return to Rockville with the turkey cock and have it
shipped by express to the Rover boys' folks in New York. Jack wrote out
a card, which was to be sent with the game, and also another card to be
tacked on the box in which it was to be shipped. Then the old lumberman
hurried over to his own cabin to get ready for the journey.

"Won't our folks be surprised when they get that box!" exclaimed Fred.
"I wish I could be there to see them."

"They'll know we didn't lose any time going hunting," added Andy, with a
happy laugh.

When the old hunter had departed with the turkey cock, the boys hung up
the dead hens and then proceeded to make themselves at home in the cabin
which had been assigned to them. They had quite something to do to build
a fire and to unpack and stow away the various things which they had
brought along, and almost before they were aware it was time for dinner.

"Shall we eat the game to-day?" questioned Randy.

"Oh, let us wait until to-morrow. Then Uncle Barney will be with us, and
he can enjoy it, too," answered Jack, and so it was decided. Then the
boys started in to get such a meal as their stores and the things which
the old lumberman had turned over to them provided.

It was great fun, and all of them felt in the best of spirits. Andy
could hardly keep himself down, and had to whistle at the top of his
lungs, and even do a jig or two while he moved about.

"It's going to be the best outing ever!" he declared over and over
again.

"Yes, and won't we have something to tell when we get back to Colby
Hall!" put in Fred.

It was over an hour later before dinner was ready. Having had such an
early breakfast, the boys did full justice to all the things they had
cooked, and they spent quite some time over the meal. After that they
continued to put the cabin in order, and cleaned their skates, and also
looked over their guns.

"We'll have to try these snowshoes to-morrow," announced Jack, referring
to a number of such articles which Barney Stevenson had hung on the
walls of the cabin. "Maybe we'll almost break our necks at first, but
there is nothing like getting used to a thing."

"What do you mean? Getting used to breaking your neck?" questioned Andy
dryly, and this brought forth a laugh all around.

About the middle of the afternoon the boys found themselves with but
little to do, and Fred suggested that they might go out and look for
more game.

"Oh, let's take it easy for the rest of the day, and go out early in the
morning," cried Randy.

"Let us go over to the other cabin and take a look around," suggested
Andy. "I'm sure old Uncle Barney won't mind. He's a fine old gentleman,
even though he is rather peculiar."

"I want to talk to him about Ruth Stevenson's folks some time," said
Jack; "but I'm afraid I'm going to have a hard time getting at it."

Andy led the way out of the cabin, and the four boys had almost reached
the place used by the old lumberman when suddenly Fred gave a cry.

"Here come two men from the lake!"

"Maybe it's Uncle Barney coming back with one of his friends," said
Andy.

"No; neither of the men walks like the old lumberman," announced his
twin.

"One of those men looks familiar to me," burst out Jack. He gazed
intently at the advancing pair.

"There are two others behind them," broke in Fred. "Young fellows, I
think."

"One of those men is Professor Lemm!" cried Jack.

"And the two fellows in the rear are Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell!"
added Fred.




CHAPTER XXIV

A WAR OF WORDS


The knowledge that Professor Lemm, Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell were
approaching the cabins on the upper end of Snowshoe Island filled the
Rover boys with wonder.

"Professor Lemm must have come to see Uncle Barney about those deeds,"
remarked Randy.

"I wonder if that is Slugger's father with him?" broke in Fred.

"Maybe," answered Jack. "Those men were the only two who were interested
in getting possession of this island."

"I'll tell you what I think we ought to do!" exclaimed Andy.

"What?" came from the others quickly.

"I think we ought to go back to our own cabin and arm ourselves."

"That might not be such a bad idea, Andy," returned Jack. "Those men,
backed up by Slugger and Nappy, may want to carry things with a high
hand."

Acting on Andy's suggestion, the four boys retreated to the cabin which
they had just left, and each took possession of his weapon.

"I don't think they'll try much rough-house work when they see how we
are armed," remarked Randy grimly.

"Of course, we don't want to do any shooting," cautioned Jack. "We only
want to scare them, in case they go too far."

"Jack, you had better be the spokesman for the crowd," remarked Randy.
"You go ahead and talk to them, and we'll stand back with our guns."

Still holding his rifle, Jack went forward again, and in a moment more
found himself confronted by Asa Lemm and the man who was with him.

"Rover! Is it possible!" exclaimed the former teacher of Colby Hall in
astonishment. "What are you doing here?"

"I and my cousins are here to hunt."

"Humph! I didn't know old Stevenson allowed anybody to do hunting around
here."

"Maybe they are hunting here without the old man's permission,"
suggested the other man. "Where is Barney Stevenson?" he demanded of
Jack.

"Mr. Stevenson has gone over to Rockville on an errand," was the reply.

By this time Slugger and Nappy had come up, and they stared at Jack and
his cousins as if they could not believe the evidences of their senses.

"Well, what do you know about this!" burst out the former bully of Colby
Hall.

"All of those Rovers up here, and armed!" came from Nappy.

"Who gave you the right to come to this island?" went on the bully,
glaring at Jack.

"Do you know these boys?" queried the man who was with Professor Lemm.

"Sure, Dad, I know them! They are the Rover boys I told you about--the
fellows who helped to have me and Nappy sent away from school."

"Oh, so that's it!" cried Slogwell Brown. "Did you have any idea they
might be up here?" he questioned quickly.

"Not the least, Dad. I thought they were down in New York. Nappy said he
had seen them on the ice in Central Park."

"I did see them, too," answered the lad mentioned.

"Well, we didn't come here to see you Rovers," broke in Asa Lemm
stiffly. "Not but what I have an account to settle with you," he
continued significantly.

"We want nothing more to do with you, Professor Lemm," answered Jack
boldly.

"But I'm going to have something to do with you, young man!" stormed
the former teacher of the Hall, beginning to show his usual ill humor.

"Never mind these boys now, Lemm," interposed Slogwell Brown. "We want
to fix up our business with old Stevenson first."

"If you have anything to say to Mr. Stevenson, you'll have to come when
he is here," answered Jack.

"When do you expect him back?"

"I don't know exactly when he will come--probably before nightfall."

"Then, all we can do is to wait for him," grumbled Slogwell Brown.

"If we have to wait, we might as well go inside his cabin and do it,"
suggested Nappy. "It's too cold to stay out here."

"Yes, and I'm all tired out from wading through those snowdrifts," added
Slugger. He looked past Jack at the other Rover boys. "Had any luck
hunting?"

For the moment there was no reply. Then Randy stepped forward.

"I don't know as that is any of your business, Slugger," he replied
coldly.

"Oh, say! you needn't get on your high-horse," growled the bully. "What
Nappy and I ought to do is to pitch into you for having us fired out of
the Hall."

"You stay right where you are!" cried Fred.

"Humph! you think you've got the best of us with those guns, don't you?"
came from Nappy, who had ranged up beside Slugger.

"Never mind what we think," answered Andy. "If you know when you're well
off, you'll keep your distance."

"See here! you boys needn't get too fresh," came harshly from Slogwell
Brown. "I've heard all about your doings at Colby Hall, and how you got
the professor, here, and my son and his chum into trouble. Some day I
intend to make you suffer for that. But just now we are here on a
different errand."

"We're going to put old Stevenson off this island and take possession!"
cried Nappy triumphantly. "And then, when he goes, you can go, too!"

"Why cannot we take possession of these two cabins at once?" suggested
Asa Lemm. "The island belongs to us, and we have a perfect right to do
so."

"Of course we can take possession," answered Slogwell Brown.
"Remember--possession is nine points of the law," he added, in a low
tone of voice.

"We'll show old Stevenson where he belongs," growled Slugger.

"Yes, and we'll show these Rover boys where they belong, too," put in
Nappy, his eyes snapping viciously.

Without further ado, the whole party started toward the cabin which was
Barney Stevenson's home. Evidently the men had been there before, and
knew that this was the right building of the two.

"Oh, Jack! are you going to let them take possession?" questioned Fred,
in a low voice.

"What do you fellows think we ought to do?" queried the oldest Rover boy
quickly.

"I think we ought to make them keep out until Uncle Barney gets back,"
answered Randy.

"That's my idea, too," added his twin.

"They may have the right to this island, but I'd make them fight it out
with Mr. Stevenson," was Fred's comment.

"That's just the way I look at it, too," answered Jack. "Come on, Randy;
we'll guard that cabin while Andy and Fred can remain here to guard this
place."

"Would you dare to shoot at them?" questioned Fred anxiously.

"I don't think there will be any necessity for shooting, Fred. I think
if we merely show we mean business they will keep their distance."

The boys exchanged a few more words, and then Jack and Randy set off on
a run for the cabin occupied by Uncle Barney. They outdistanced the
visitors, and soon placed themselves in the doorway.

"Now, you keep back!" cried Jack warningly. "Don't come near this place
until Mr. Stevenson returns!"

"Ha! do you dare to threaten me?" burst out Slogwell Brown in amazement.

"You heard what I said."

"Every one of you keep away from here," put in Randy.

"See here, Rover!" commenced Asa Lemm. "This is outrageous! We own this
island, and we intend to take possession."

"Whether you own it or not, you are not going to take possession of
anything until after Mr. Stevenson gets here," answered Jack, as calmly
as he could. "I don't know anything about your claim. As far as I do
know, Mr. Stevenson is the owner of this place. He left us in charge
when he went away, and we are going to remain in charge until he gets
back."

"Huh! do you think we're going to stay out in this cold?" grumbled
Slugger.

"I don't care what you do," answered Jack. "You can't come into either
of these cabins--and that's final!"

"We'll see about that!" stormed Nappy, and advanced several steps.

"Get back there," ordered Jack sternly, and made a movement as if to
raise his rifle.

"Stop! Stop! Don't shoot!" yelled Asa Lemm, in sudden fright. "Keep
back, boys, or they'll certainly shoot at us!" and he began to retreat.

"Do you dare to threaten us?" questioned Slogwell Brown and the tone of
his voice showed his uneasiness. A glance over his shoulder had shown
him the other two boys at the doorway of the second cabin, and also
armed.

"I'm telling you to keep away from here--that's all," answered Jack.
"You can come back when Mr. Stevenson returns."

"I--I think maybe it would be better for us to retire," stammered
Professor Lemm. "We--er--don't want to run the risk of being shot. Those
boys are very hot-headed, and there is no telling what they might do if
we exasperated them."

"I'm not going to give in to a bunch of school boys!" stormed Slogwell
Brown, who, in his manner, was every bit as much of a bully as his son.

"But if they should shoot at us----"

"I don't think they've got the nerve to do it. They are only putting up
a big bluff."

"Don't you be too sure about that," put in Nappy, who was just as much
scared as was the professor. "Those Rover boys are game to do almost
anything when they are aroused."

"We've got to remember one thing," came from Slugger. "There are four of
them, and each of 'em has got a gun."

"I wish I had brought a gun along myself," said his crony.

"We should have armed ourselves," grumbled Slogwell Brown. "It was a
mistake to come over to this island without so much as a pistol. If I
only had some sort of a weapon, I'd show those boys a thing or two."

"Maybe we can get into the cabin by a back way," suggested Nappy.

"Say, that's an idea!" cried his crony. "And if we can do that, maybe
there's a gun or a pistol inside that we can use."

"You boys can take a walk around to the rear if you want to," answered
Slugger's father. "I'll see if I can't bluff those fellows into letting
us in at the front."

Slugger and Nappy had just started to move away toward the lake shore,
intending to sneak behind some rocks and bushes, when they heard Fred
give a loud shout from the entrance to the second cabin. Then Andy gave
a long whistle.

"What's that for?" questioned Nappy quickly.

"See! they are waving their hands to somebody," announced Slugger. He
turned to gaze out over the lake. "A man is coming."

"What do you bet it isn't old Stevenson?"

"It is! See, he's coming as fast as he can!"

"Yes, and he has his gun with him," announced Asa Lemm somewhat feebly.

Attracted by the call from Fred and the loud whistle given by Andy, the
old lumberman had noted that a number of visitors were standing in front
of the two cabins at the upper end of Snowshoe Island. He was still a
considerable distance out on the lake, but his rapid skate strokes soon
brought him to the shore. Then, without waiting to unstrap his skates,
he came forward through the snow, his shotgun ready for use.

"Well, I'm mighty glad he's got here," murmured Jack, and his cousins
echoed the sentiment.




CHAPTER XXV

FACING THE WOLVES


"So this is how you treat me, eh?" exclaimed old Barney Stevenson, as he
confronted the visitors. "Come here to do as you please while I'm away,
eh?" and his face showed his intense displeasure.

"They wanted to go into your cabin, but we wouldn't let them do it while
you were away," said Jack quickly.

"Good for you, boys--I'm glad you kept 'em out."

"See here, Stevenson, this nonsense has got to end!" cried Slogwell
Brown. "You know as well as I do that you have no valid claim to this
island."

"The island belongs to me, Brown, and I intend to keep it!" was the
quick reply. "I've got my deed for it."

"That deed is no good, and you know it," broke in Asa Lemm.

"Look here! if you are so sure that Mr. Stevenson is in the wrong, why
don't you go to law about it?" questioned Jack, struck by a sudden idea.

"See here, boy, this is none of your affair," growled Slogwell Brown.
"We'll conduct our own business in our own way."

"And I'll conduct my own business in my own way, too!" interposed Uncle
Barney. "You get off of this island--all of you--just as quick as you
can," and he started as if to raise his gun.

"Now, see here, Stevenson----" began Slogwell Brown.

"We have rights----" came from Asa Lemm.

"I've listened to you before. I'm not going to listen again!"
interrupted the old lumberman. "You haven't any right on this island,
and I'm ordering you--every one of you--to get off just as soon as you
can. You're trespassers--nothing else!" and now he raised his gun as if
getting ready to shoot.

"Come on, let us go back!" cried Professor Lemm in sudden terror, and he
retreated several steps, followed by Slugger and Nappy.

"See here, Stevenson, you'll be sorry for this some day," growled
Slogwell Brown. He had still too much of the fight left in him to
retreat, and yet he was not brave enough to advance.

"I'll take my chances!" returned Uncle Barney. "I've got those deeds,
and I know they are all O. K. Now, you clear out--and don't you dare to
come here again!"

"Why won't you let me see those deeds?" questioned the other man.

"Because I won't--that's why!"

"I came on purpose to look them over and show you your mistake."

"Maybe he hasn't got any deeds," came from Nappy, who had fallen back
still further.

"I've got those deeds safe and sound--in a box--and put away where you
fellows can't find 'em!" answered the old lumberman triumphantly. "Now
you get out! I'll give you just five minutes to do it in. Jack, you time
'em, will you?" and he glanced at the oldest Rover boy.

"Sure, I will!" was the ready reply, and Jack pulled out his watch.
"It's now exactly twelve minutes past four."

"All right. Then you've got until seventeen minutes after four to get
off of this island," announced Barney Stevenson to the visitors. "If you
are not off by that time, there'll most likely be some shooting around
here."

He had taken his place in front of his cabin, and all of the boys were
now ranged beside him. As each was armed, they made quite a formidable
looking firing squad.

Much against his will, Slogwell Brown retreated to where Professor Lemm
and the others of the crowd stood. The four talked matters over in a low
tone.

"It's too bad we came here unarmed," grumbled Slogwell Brown.

"That's just what I say, Dad!" answered his son. "Let's go back and get
some guns and pistols."

"No! no! We don't want any shooting!" cried Asa Lemm in new alarm.

"I'm not going to get mixed up in any gun-play," added Nappy.

"If we could only get possession of those deeds!" went on the former
teacher of Colby Hall.

"I've got a plan," suggested Nappy, after a moment's pause. "Come on,
let's go away now, and I'll tell you what it is."

Growling and grumbling, the four visitors made their way slowly to the
lake shore. As they skated off, Slugger Brown turned to shake his fist
at the Rovers, and Nappy did likewise.

"Well, they've gone!" exclaimed Fred, and his voice showed his relief.

"But there's no telling when they'll come back," said Randy quickly.

"I don't think they'll come back in a hurry," broke in Andy. "We scared
them pretty thoroughly with our guns."

"What did they say to you before I came?" questioned Uncle Barney, while
the party on the lake was disappearing in the gloom.

Thereupon the boys related the particulars of all that had taken place,
the old lumberman listening closely to the recital. At the end, he shut
his teeth and shook his head grimly.

"The rascals!" he ejaculated. "If it hadn't been for you, they would
most likely have ransacked both of the cabins, and maybe, if they had
gotten hold of my extra gun or my pistol, taken possession and made me
keep away."

"Oh, they would have taken possession all right enough!" cried Jack.
"But if the island is really yours, Uncle Barney, I don't see why you
couldn't have had them arrested for anything like that."

"I told you before--I have no use for lawyers or law courts," grumbled
the old lumberman. "All I want to do is to stay here and not be
disturbed. I've got my deeds, and that's enough."

"Are you sure they are in a safe place?" questioned Jack. "I mean, some
place where those rascals can't get at them?"

"I've got 'em in a tin box, and put away safe enough."

"I hope you haven't got them hidden around one of the cabins," said
Fred. "They'd be sure to find them if they came here some time when you
were away, and made a search."

"I haven't got 'em in or near either of the cabins. I've got 'em in a
better place than that," was the cunning reply.

"You really ought to have them recorded, Uncle Barney; and then maybe it
wouldn't be a bad scheme to put them in a safe deposit box in a bank,"
said Jack.

"Oh, they're safe enough--don't you fear!" answered the old man. It was
plainly to be seen that he was bound to have his own way in everything
he did.

Satisfied that the visitors had left the island for the time being, the
boys followed the old lumberman into his own cabin, and there helped him
to start up the fire. He told them that he had shipped off the wild
turkey as desired.

The evening passed quietly, and in the morning the boys found themselves
thoroughly rested.

"It's a grand day for hunting!" exclaimed Fred, as he went outside to
view the landscape. The sun was just peeping over the trees on the
eastern shore of Lake Monona, and soon the dazzling shafts of light were
streaming over the ice and snow in all directions.

"Do you think Asa Lemm and those others will be back to-day?" queried
Randy.

"There's no telling," answered Jack.

While some of the boys were preparing breakfast, the others walked over
to Uncle Barney's cabin. They found the old lumberman already stirring,
and invited him to come over and eat his morning meal with them, an
invitation which he readily accepted, for he had taken a great liking to
all of the Rovers.

"We've been thinking of trying those snowshoes, Uncle Barney," said
Jack.

"No time like the present, boys," was the answer. "I'll show you how to
put 'em on, and how to use 'em, too."

"Won't you go out hunting with us?" questioned Fred.

"No; I'm going to stay around the cabins, in case those rascals come
back. I don't think they will, but there is nothing like being on the
safe side."

The hour after the morning meal was productive of a good deal of fun.
None of the boys had ever used snowshoes before, and consequently in
their efforts to move around on them, they got more than one tumble.

"Great watermelons!" cried Andy, as he pitched headfirst into a
snowdrift. "And I thought using snowshoes was the easiest thing in the
world!"

"It's just like plain walking, Andy; it's got to be learned," answered
Jack, who, a moment before, had had a tumble himself.

Finally, however, the boys managed to remain on their feet fairly well,
and then they started off to do a little hunting along the eastern shore
of the island.

"I don't know as you'll be able to stir up very much to-day," announced
Uncle Barney. "But even a few rabbits and a few squirrels won't be so
bad."

They carried a lunch with them, not knowing whether they would get back
to the cabin by noon or not. They were soon gliding over the snow where
something of a trail led through the woods.

They tramped a good half mile before they saw anything in the way of
game. Then several squirrels appeared, and Fred and Andy had the
satisfaction of laying them low with their shotguns. Then they tramped
on further, and by noon managed to obtain a rabbit and two woodcocks.

"Not so bad but what it might be worse," announced Jack, who had the
rabbit to his credit. "We won't go hungry, that's sure!"

"And don't forget that we've got those wild turkeys to eat," added Andy,
who had laid low the two woodcocks.

Being unaccustomed to the use of snowshoes, the lads were glad to rest.
They built themselves a little campfire, and, huddling around this,
partook of the lunch they had brought along, washing it down with some
hot chocolate from a thermos bottle they carried.

The lunch finished, they set off once again, this time going deeper into
the woods than ever.

"Listen!" cried Jack presently. "I thought I heard some game stirring."

All came to a halt and listened intently. From a distance they heard a
peculiar drumming sound.

"Partridges, I'll bet anything!" cried Randy in a low voice. "Come on,
let's see if we can't get some of them."

He led the way over the snow, and the others were not slow in following.
They had reached a point where the trees grew sparingly, and where there
were a great number of rocks and brushwood.

They could hear a strange fluttering, and then a number of partridges
arose in the air some distance in front of them. All took hasty aim and
fired, but the game sailed out of sight unharmed.

"That's the time we missed it," observed Jack dismally. "I guess we made
too much noise and they heard us."

"Listen!" interrupted Randy. "There is some sort of fight going on
ahead."

He was right; and, listening, they made out a strange bark mingled with
a snarl and several yelps.

"Let's go ahead and see what it means!" exclaimed Andy, and pushed on,
with the others close behind him.

The boys had to skirt some heavy brushwood, and then came out in a small
cleared space surrounded by numerous big rocks and pine trees. The
strange noises they had heard had come from between two of the large
rocks, and now, of a sudden, several forms, snapping and snarling and
whirling this way and that in the snow, burst upon their view.

"Wolves!"

"Four of them!"

"They are all fighting over the possession of a dead partridge!"

Four gaunt and hungry-looking wolves had come tumbling out in the snow.
One of them was carrying a dead partridge in his mouth, and the other
three were doing their best to get the game away from him. As the Rovers
came into the opening, the wolves, for an instant, stopped their
fighting and glared at the boys. Then the animal having the game made a
sudden leap over the rocks and disappeared from view. The three wolves
that remained began to snap and snarl and show their teeth.

"Gracious! they are certainly hungry-looking beggars!" was Randy's
comment.

"Come on, let's shoot them!" exclaimed Jack.

"They're no good for game," interposed Randy.

"I know that, Randy. But we don't want them on the island, and neither
does Uncle Barney."

"I thought he said there weren't very many wolves left. Maybe----"

Fred, who was speaking, got no further, for at that moment the three
hungry-looking wolves crouched low, and then sprang straight in the
direction of the four young hunters!




CHAPTER XXVI

JACK FREES HIS MIND


"Jump for your lives!"

"Shoot them!"

These cries had scarcely been made when Jack's gun rang out and the
foremost of the three wolves was hit in the foreleg. He gave a plunge,
and rolled over in the snow, snapping and snarling viciously. The report
of the weapon was followed by the discharge of Randy's gun, but his aim
was wild and the charge passed harmlessly over the heads of the wolves.

"Shoot them!"

"Club them!"

Then another shot rang out as Fred swung into action. It was at close
range, and the charge of shot tore directly into the throat of the
leading wolf, causing him to leap high into the air, and then fall over
on his back. He plunged for a moment, sending the snow flying in every
direction, and then lay still.

Shocked evidently by the fate that had overtaken both of his
companions, the third wolf came to a sudden halt. With eyes glaring
fiercely, he snapped and then leaped for the nearest rocks.

[Illustration: THE WOLF RECEIVED A BLOW THAT BOWLED HIM OVER.

_Page 260_]

"Shoot him, somebody! We want to get all three of them!"

Crack! Bang! went a rifle and a shotgun almost simultaneously, but the
aim of the two marksmen was poor, and only a few scattering shots went
through the tail of the wolf. Then, with a wild yelp, he disappeared
behind the rocks, and that was the last seen of him. In the meantime,
the wounded beast was snapping and snarling most ferociously. He sent a
shower of loose snow toward the Rovers, and then made a desperate leap
at Jack.

It was a time of dire peril, and no one realized it more than did the
oldest Rover boy. He attempted to retreat, but to do so in snowshoes was
too much for him, and over he went on his side in a deep bank of snow,
almost disappearing from view.

"The wolf is on top of Jack!"

"Shoot him--but be careful and don't hit Jack!"

"Don't fire!" gasped Randy. "You'll hit Jack sure!" and then, as well as
he was able, he sprang to the front, using his gun as a club as he did
so. Around came the stock with a wide swing, and the wolf received a
blow in the side that bowled him over and over.

This second attack, coming after he had been wounded in the foreleg, was
too much for the animal, and with a yelp of sudden fear he went limping
and leaping through the snow, sending the loose particles flying all
about him. One of the boys discharged his gun after the beast, but
whether he hit the animal or not he could not tell. In another moment
the wolf was out of sight.

"Do you think any of them will come back?" panted Andy, who was quite
out of breath with excitement.

"I don't think so," answered Jack. "However, let us reload just as
quickly as we can and be ready for them." He had been taught the
all-important lesson that a hunter should not let his firearm remain
empty.

"Well, anyhow, I got one of them!" cried Fred, with proper pride, as he
surveyed the beast he had laid low. The discharge of shot had almost
torn the wolf's throat asunder.

"What will you do with him?" questioned Randy.

"I'm going to take him back to the cabin and ask Uncle Barney about it,"
was Fred's reply. "Perhaps we can have the wolf stuffed."

The excitement of the encounter with the wolves had taken away the boys'
desire to do any more hunting that day, and, strapping the dead wolf
fast to a tree limb, they started on the return to the northern end of
the island, each doing his share in carrying the dead animal.

"What's that? A wolf?" cried Barney Stevenson, when he saw what they had
brought. And then he added quickly. "Must be the one that we located in
the cabin at the other end of the island."

"We can't say about that," answered Jack, and then all of the boys told
the story of the encounter in the woods.

"Four of them! Why, I haven't heard of any such thing as that around
here for years! I'll have to go after some of those wolves myself."

"I was wondering what we could do with this wolf," said Fred. "Do you
think I could send him home to have him stuffed?"

"You could, my boy. But I wouldn't advise it. Who would want a stuffed
wolf around anyhow? Of course, you might put him in some club-house or
furrier's window--or something like that."

"Oh, I guess I won't bother," answered Fred.

"I'll tell you what we'll do," suggested Jack. "We'll prop the wolf up
against a tree, and then take a photograph of Fred shooting at him;"
and so it was decided, and the boys had much fun taking the picture.

Several days passed, and no one came near the island. In the meantime,
the boys went out hunting every day, and Barney Stevenson showed them
how to fish through a hole in the ice. This was great sport, and they
had the satisfaction of adding a number of pickerel and perch to their
bill of fare. During those days, they cooked and ate the wild turkeys,
and found the meat quite palatable.

"We sure are having one dandy time," said Fred one evening, when sitting
in front of the blazing fire.

"I don't see how it could be any better, Fred," answered Andy.

"And just think of what we've brought down in the way of rabbits,
squirrels, pheasants, woodcocks and turkeys!"

"Not to say anything about my wolf," came from Fred.

"Yes, and a shot I got at a brook mink," added Jack. He had seen the
mink at a distance, but had been unable to bring the game down.

Uncle Barney had been with the boys at supper time, but had taken
himself over to his own cabin, to smoke and to read one of several books
the boys had given him.

"I think I'll go over and see the old lumberman," said Jack presently.
"You fellows can stay here."

"Going to talk to him about Ruth and her folks?" questioned Randy.

"Yes, if I get the chance."

"I wouldn't worry him too much," said Fred. "He hasn't gotten over that
visit from Professor Lemm and the others yet."

"Oh, I'll be careful--don't worry about that."

The old lumberman was a bit surprised to have Jack walk in on him, but
the youth had brought his gun along, and he asked Uncle Barney to
examine the hammer of the weapon.

"It looks all right to me," said the old lumberman, after an
examination; "but I'll put on a few drops of oil, and then maybe it'll
work easier. It won't do to have the hammer stick just when you want to
use it."

"And now, Uncle Barney, if you'll permit me, I'd like to speak of
something else," said Jack, as he dropped into a seat alongside of the
fireplace. "I've got something on my mind, and I want to see if you
can't help me out."

"Something on your mind, eh?" returned the old man kindly. "Well, if I
can help you out, you can depend on old Uncle Barney to do it," and he
smiled broadly.

"It isn't exactly my trouble, Uncle Barney. It's somebody else's," went
on the oldest Rover boy. "A young lady I know is very much worried over
something, and she has asked me if I can't do something to help her get
rid of that worry."

"Must be some young lady you know pretty well, then, Jack;" and the old
lumberman smiled again.

"I do know her quite well. And I think a great deal of her friendship.
Her folks have some trouble on hand--quite a good deal of it in
fact--and it worries the girl a good deal, and that, of course, worries
me. You see, there has been a terrible mistake made, and neither the
girl nor her folks know how to get at it to remedy it."

"I see--I see!" The old lumberman nodded his head several times. "That's
the way it is often. Things get into a snarl, and a fellow can't see his
way clear to straighten 'em out. I've been there myself, and I know."

"This young lady I'm speaking about has an old relative--a sort of
uncle--that she thinks a great deal of. Her folks think a great deal of
this gentleman, too. Now, years ago, her folks and the old gentleman had
a quarrel, and now the old gentleman won't let her come anywhere near
him, even though she would love dearly to talk to him and try to
explain matters, so that he would understand that it was not her folks'
fault that the quarrel had taken place."

"See here! what are you talking about?" exclaimed Uncle Barney, eyeing
Jack suspiciously. "Come now, no beating about the bush!"

"Well, if you must know, I'm speaking about Ruth Stevenson, who goes to
a young ladies' school not far from Colby Hall. She and I are very good
friends, and she has told me a good deal about this quarrel you had with
her father."

"It was Fred Stevenson's fault--it wasn't my fault!" grumbled the old
lumberman.

"Maybe it was, Uncle Barney. I don't know anything about that. But I do
know that Ruth has told me that her father never wanted nor tried to do
you any injury. He claims that it was all a mistake, and that you should
have given him a chance to explain."

"It wasn't any mistake--I know just exactly what happened!"

"But don't you think you ought to at least listen to what Ruth's father
has to say? All he wants you to do is to hear his story."

"Did he tell you that?"

"Ruth told me. She said both her father and her mother are very much
upset over the way you have treated them. They want to be friends with
you, and her father is willing to do whatever is right regarding what
took place years ago. She said her folks would like nothing better than
to have you give up your lonely life on this island and come down and
make your home with them."

"What! Me go down there and live with them after all that has happened!
I couldn't do anything like that!" and the old lumberman sprang up and
began to pace the cabin floor.

"You could do it if you tried, Uncle Barney. By the way, don't you
remember Ruth?"

"Sure I do--as pretty a little girl as ever I set eyes on. I never had
anything against her. It was her father I had my quarrel with."

"And you liked Ruth's mother, too, didn't you?" went on Jack slowly.

"Oh, yes. Helen Dean always was a nice girl. I knew her long before Fred
Stevenson married her."

"And you liked Ruth's father, too, didn't you, before this quarrel took
place?"

"Of course. We were very chummy up to that time." The old lumberman took
several turns across the cabin floor. "But that's all over now. He
didn't treat me fair--that's all there is to it! He didn't even come to
my wife's funeral!"

"Well, if he didn't, he's very sorry for it now. And you can take it
from me, Uncle Barney, that he would like nothing better than to patch
up the matter somehow or other, and be friends once more."

"Yes, but----"

"And just think how happy it would make his wife and Ruth!" continued
Jack quietly.

"Maybe. But I don't see how it can be done. Anyway, I ain't going to
take the first step," went on Uncle Barney, somewhat lamely.

"You won't have to take the first step!" cried Jack. "You just let them
do that." He came over and caught the old lumberman by the arm. "Will
you?"