Out with Gun and Camera Part 16

"I've got an idea," said Shep at last. "You can follow it or not, as you think best. My idea is to have two of the crowd take the boat down and the two others walk to Firefly Lake, carrying the most precious of the outfit."

"That suits me," said Snap.

"Who will walk and who take the boat?" questioned Whopper.

"I might as well go in the boat---I'm wet already," said Giant, smiling grimly.

"The three of us can draw lots as to who shall go with Giant," said the doctor's son.

The drawing was at once made, and it fell to Snap to go with the small youth. The cameras and guns were taken from the rowboat and also a few other things. Then the doctor's son and Whopper aided the others in getting the boat into the rushing river once more.

"Take care of yourselves!" cried Shep. "If all goes right you'll get to the lake long before we do."

In a moment the boat was caught by the current and whirled onward.

Giant and Snap had all they could do to steer it. But, fortunately, they found no more such bad places as those already encountered, and in less than an hour found themselves floating on Firefly Lake, safe and sound.

"The others might have come with us after all," declared Giant.

"Wonder how long it will take them to reach here?"

"I don't know; it depends on how rough they find the way. Maybe a couple of hours," answered Snap. "We may as well go ash.o.r.e, start up a camp and wait for them."

CHAPTER X

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

The doctor's son and Whopper had no easy time of it making their way through the bushes and around the rocks which lined the watercourse between the two lakes. There was no trail on that side of the stream, and they had to "go it blind," to use Shep's words.

"Say, this is worse than climbing a mountain!" gasped Whopper, after slipping and sliding over a number of rocks and coming down rather suddenly in a hollow.

"Rather knocks the breath out of a fellow," returned Shep. "Take care that you don't sprain an ankle, Whopper."

"That's what I'm watching out for. I don't want my whole outing spoiled."

After a large amount of hard walking and climbing they managed to cover about half the distance to Firefly Lake. But by that time both were so exhausted the doctor's son called a halt.

"No use of killing ourselves," he said. "We can't go any farther than the lake to-day, anyway."

"Hope Snap and Giant wait for us at the mouth of the river," said Whopper. "I don't want to tramp along the lake sh.o.r.e afoot."

"Oh, they'll wait, and mostly likely start a camp."

"Say, if I remember rightly the river makes a bend to the right here,"

went on Whopper after a pause. "And if that is so, what's the matter with our striking inland a short distance and cutting off some of the walk?"

"I'm willing---anything to reach Firefly Lake before it gets too dark to see."

Having rested themselves, the boys commenced to draw away from the river sh.o.r.e, taking to the woods, where the walking was easier. It was now close to six o'clock, and the sun was going down over the trees to the westward.

"Hope they have supper ready by the time we get there," said Whopper after a period of silence. "This transit is making me as hungry as a bear."

"Same here. Well, we'll have the partridge to fall back on, even if they don't cook anything else."

The two young hunters tramped on. As they walked they kept their eyes open for a possible sight of game. So far all they had seen were some birds, not worth shooting.

Another quarter of a mile was covered when they came to a patch of spruces. As they advanced they saw several rabbits leap from beside one of the trees.

"A chance for a shot!" cried the doctor's son, and speedily swung his shotgun into position, an example followed by his chum. Both young hunters blazed away without delay, and each was successful in laying a rabbit low. Before they could fire again the rest of the game was out of sight.

"Not very large," was Shep's comment as they picked up the game. "But the rabbits are young, and they'll make fine eating."

"It is a good thing that new game law isn't in effect yet," said Whopper. "If it was we'd not be allowed to shoot rabbits until next October."

"You are right, Whopper---hunting will be a good deal more restricted after the new laws go into effect."

Placing the rabbits in a gamebag, the two chums walked on, past the clump of spruces and then across a little clearing. Here, much to their surprise, they came in sight of a dilapidated cabin. It was a small affair of rough logs with a rude stone chimney and one window and one door. One end of the cabin sagged greatly, as if on the point of falling down.

"I hadn't any idea this was here," was the comment of the doctor's son. "Wonder who it can belong to?"

"Perhaps some hunters put it up in days gone by," returned Whopper.

"It doesn't look as if it was inhabited."

"Let's go in and take a look around," suggested Shep. It was his delight to poke around in new and odd places.

"We don't want to lose time," was his chum's reply. "It will be dark before you know it."

"Oh, it won't take long to look," answered Shep.

The old cabin was surrounded by weeds and bushes, and they had to fairly work their way to the doorway.

"Somebody has been here, that's certain," cried the doctor's son.

"Here are eggsh.e.l.ls and newly picked chicken feathers."

"h.e.l.lo, in there!" cried Whopper, poking his head into the small doorway. He could not see, for the cabin inside was dark.

Scarcely had the word been uttered when a most surprising thing happened. Something whizzed through the air, directly between the heads of the two boy hunters. It was a good-sized chunk of wood, and it struck a rock outside with a thud.

"Why---why---stop that!" stammered Whopper, and fell back, and Shep did the same.

"Evidently somebody doesn't want visitors," was the comment of the doctor's son. "I say," he called out, "what do you mean by heaving that wo-----"

Crash! From the interior of the cabin came another chunk of wood, a gnarled root, just grazing Shep's shoulder. Then a stone followed, striking Whopper a glancing blow on the hip. Both lads retreated in confusion.

"Well, of all things!" gasped the doctor's son when he could get his breath. "That's a cordial welcome, I must say."