Part 2 (2/2)

”Me to try for the first deer,” spoke up Steve, quickly. ”Squirrel stew, like we had for supper to-night, is all very well, but it ain't in the same cla.s.s with fresh venison. Yum, yum, my mouth fairly waters for it, boys!”

”Some like venison and some say gray nut-fed squirrels,” remarked Trapper Jim. ”As for me, give me squirrel every time.”

”But we ought to try and get one deer anyway, hadn't we?” Steve pleaded.

”Sure we will,” replied the owner of the cabin, heartily, ”and I hope it falls to your gun, Steve, seeing you dote on venison so. But it might be to-morrow I'd like to set a few of my traps, and reckoned that some of you boys'd want to watch me do the job.”

”That's right,” cried Owen and Max together, their eyes fairly sparkling with delight at the antic.i.p.ated treat.

So they talked on, and Trapper Jim told lots of mighty interesting things as he smoked his old black pipe and sent curling wreaths of blue smoke up the broad throat of the chimney.

”Wonder if the moon ain't up long before now?” remarked Steve, finally.

”Go and find out,” suggested Bandy-legs.

Whereupon Steve arose, stretched his cramped legs, and, going over to the door, opened it. They saw him pa.s.s out, and as the trapper had started to relate another of his deeply interesting experiences the boys devoted their attention to him. But it was not three minutes later when Steve came rus.h.i.+ng into the cabin, his eyes filled with excitement, and his voice raised to almost a shout as he cried out:

”Wolves; a whole pack of 'em comin' tearin' mad this way!”

CHAPTER III.

WHAT WOODCRAFT MEANT.

”Wolves! Oh, my gracious! You don't say!” cried Bandy-legs, making a dive for the two sleeping bunks that Steve had built along one side of the inside wall of the cabin.

Of course there was an immediate scurrying around. All the other boys were on their feet instantly, even tired Toby with the rest.

Max instinctively threw a glance toward the corner where his faithful gun stood. He did not jump to secure it, however, because something caused him to first of all steal a quick look at Trapper Jim. When he discovered that worthy with a broad smile upon his face, Max decided that after all the danger could hardly be as severe as indications pointed.

Meanwhile Steve had managed to slam the door shut, and was holding it so with his whole weight while he tried to adjust the bar properly in its twin sockets.

Steve was trembling all over with excitement. A thing like this was apt to stir him up tremendously.

”Why don't some of you lend a hand here?” he kept calling out. ”Plague take that clumsy old bar, won't it ever take hold? Get my gun for me, can't you, Bandy-legs? Listen to the varmints a-tryin' to break in, would you. Wow! Ain't they mad I fooled them, though? Say, I wonder now if they'd think to get on the roof and come down the chimbly. Hand me my gun, Bandy-legs! Get a move on you!”

By this time Jim was doubled up with laughter.

”Hold on you cannon-ball express boy,” he remarked, as he stepped over and began to take away the bar which Steve had managed to get in place with so much trouble; ”I guess we'll have to let these critters come in.

They look on Uncle Jim's cabin as their home.”

”What, wolves!” gasped Steve.

”Well, hardly, but my two dogs, Ajax and Don,” replied the trapper. ”You see, I didn't want them along when I borrowed that buckboard and team to fetch you all here. So I left 'em with a neighbor three miles off, and told him to set 'em loose to-night. So you thought they were wolves, did you, Steve? Well, I guess they look somethin' that way, and the moonlight was a little deceivin', too.”

With that he threw open the door.

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