Guns and Snowshoes; Or, the Winter Outing of the Young Hunters Part 28

The repast over, they started on the return, Jed helping with first one drag and then the other. He also pointed out what he thought would be the easiest route to follow. This was over two hills.

"Well have to climb, but we won't fall down between any o' the rocks,"

he said. "It's dangerous walking over rocks with snow on 'em, for if you go down in a hollow you're liable to twist an ankle or break a leg."

"We certainly don't want any accidents," said Shep.

"How the eyes of Ham Spink and his crowd would stick out if they knew we had bagged so much game!" exclaimed Whopper. "If they had such luck they'd never get done talking about it."

"Do you think they'll come out this winter?" questioned Giant.

"I don't know," answered Snap. "If they do come out I hope they keep away from us."

"So do I," put in the doctor's son.

CHAPTER XX

SHOOTING WILD DUCKS

When the boys and Jed Sanborn reached camp a surprise awaited them.

Seated at a small fire in front of Birch Tree Inn was an elderly man dressed in the outfit of a mountain guide.

"Why, it's Jack Dalton!" cried Shep.

"Hullo, boys!" called the man at the fire, rising. "Thought as how you'd be back some time to-day. How are ye, Jed?" he added, to the old hunter.

Jack Dalton, as my old readers know, was a guide of that vicinity, well known to all the inhabitants for miles around. He had visited the boys' camp during the summer and had been friendly in more ways than one.

"Thought I might get a shakedown here for the night," said Jack Dalton. "Been hoofing it sence five o'clock this morning--over from Philbrook's preserve--and I'm too tuckered out to make Fairview."

"Certainly you can stay with us," answered Snap. "Had any luck?"

"A few rabbits and some ducks, that's all. Gee shoo! Do you mean to say you got them deer an' that buck to-day?"

"We did."

"Gosh all hemlock! No wonder a feller like me can't get nuthin! That's rare luck; eh, Jed?"

"It was," answered the old hunter. "They don't expect to do it again in a hurry."

The shelter was opened up and all went inside and prepared a generous supper. Jack Dalton insisted upon giving the boys one of the ducks he had brought down, in return for the accommodations received. On their part they gave the guide a generous chunk of venison, for which he was exceedingly thankful.

"I'd like to go out duck shooting," said Whopper. "It would be something different."

"No ducks around Firefly Lake," answered Giant. "I asked Jed."

Jack Dalton was questioned and said that there were plenty of wild ducks below the Philbrook preserve--at a locality known as the Marshes--and he told them how to get there.

"But you want to be careful about walking over the Marshes," he said.

"In the summer time there are lots of bog holes, an' it ain't none too safe in the winter time."

As Jack Dalton was going on to Fairview with Jed Sanborn, it was decided by the boys to send the buck and one of the other deer home, which would be easy, with two men to draw the load. All spent a comfortable night in camp, nothing coming to disturb them. Breakfast was a substantial one, and by nine o'clock Jed and Dalton set off with their load, the old hunter also carrying various letters for the folks at home. The boys went out on the lake to see them off, and gave them a rousing cheer on parting.

"Tell everybody we are having the time of our lives," shouted Snap after the pair.

There was more snow in the air, and the young hunters spent the remainder of that day in camp, cleaning the game they had brought in and also their firearms, and mending a couple of snowshoes that had become a little broken. A portion of the chimney also needed attention, and before they knew it, night was once more upon them.

"I'll tell you what," said Snap. "Out here the time seems to fairly fly."

"Boys, do you realize that day after to-morrow is Christmas," came from Whopper.

"So it is!" was the cry.

"Gracious, I almost forgot about it!"

"We must celebrate!"

"Sure thing! Oh, we'll have a dandy time. We can have fish, fowl and venison, and pudding and cake and nuts and apples, and lots of good things," finished Giant.

"Let us go duck hunting to-morrow and spend Christmas here," said the doctor's son, and so it was agreed.

Everything was prepared for an early start, and the four boy hunters were "up and doing" by seven o'clock in the morning.

"Phew! but ain't it cold!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Snap, as he slapped his hands together. "I didn't calculate on such a drop in the thermometer."

It certainly was freezing weather and they bundled up well before leaving the shelter. As before, they shut up tightly, to keep out all wild animals. The deer and other game had been hung high by ropes from several tree limbs.

Of course all were on snowshoes, and they carried in their game-bags provisions enough for two good meals. Every day they found walking on snowshoes easier, and all got over the ground, or rather snow, very well.

Once over the hills back of Firefly Lake, they took to a route that was new to them, leading through a heavy belt of spruce timber and then over a sloping stretch running down to the lowlands. On the way they stirred up some rabbits and Whopper could not resist the temptation to bring one of them low.

"Now I won't have to go back empty-handed, even if I don't see another thing," he declared.

It was fully noon by the time they reached the edge of the Marshes, wide stretches of lowlands, dotted here and there with clumps of bushes. At a great distance they heard gunshots, but failed to discover the gunners.

They tramped on to a point where Jack Dalton had said the wild ducks were apt to be found. The wind was coming up, and out in this wide open plain it cut like a knife.

"We won't want to stay out here more than an hour or two," said Shep.

"My backbone feels like an icicle!"

"Do you know what I think?" said Giant. "I think it is going to snow."

"So do I," came from Whopper.

A few minutes later the first flakes fell, and fearful that the snow would interfere with their sight of any wild ducks they hurried forward until they reached a circle of bushes Jack Dalton had mentioned.