Part 6 (1/2)

Each and every one of them solemnly declared that he was firmly resolved to be unusually careful.

Finally they reached the cabin.

In the afternoon Old Jim skinned the three musquash, and showed the boys how he fastened the hides on stretching boards, which would cause them to retain their shape while they dried.

”We never put skins in the sun or near a fire to dry,” he observed, seeing that most of the boys were anxious to learn all they could. ”The best way is to stand 'em in the shade where the breeze can play on 'em.

But, of course, you mustn't let the pelts get wet while they're drying.”

Sure enough, Jim cut up the musquash, and gave evidences of satisfaction at finding them so plump.

As the afternoon began to wane Bandy-legs surprised his chums by actually volunteering to go out and gather wood for the fire.

This was really such an unusual occurrence that Max surveyed the other curiously as he pa.s.sed out.

He wondered if Bandy-legs, generally quite lazy, had seen the error of his ways and meant to reform.

It appeared that Max was not the only one who thought this action odd, for Owen spoke of it.

”What d'ye suppose struck that boy?” he remarked.

”Never knew him to volunteer to do a thing before,” declared Max.

”I should say not,” Steve broke in. ”Generally speaking, we have to use a stuffed club on Bandy-legs to get him to do anything but eat.”

Toby chuckled.

”Gr-g-great s-s-stunt,” he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, ”g-g-got him anxious to t-t-try stewed m-m-m-m--” But that name was really too much for Toby, who had to be satisfied by pointing at the kettle in which Trapper Jim had placed the dismembered musquash.

At this the others laughed.

They were lounging around in the cabin at the time. A small blaze burned in the big fireplace at the bottom of the wide-throated chimney.

”What I want to know,” remarked Owen, who had been examining one of the skins stretched on the thin board, ”is why they fix these different ways. I've read that some skins are cured with the fur out and others with it in; some split and others dried whole.”

”Glad you mentioned that,” said Jim, looking pleased. ”Skins are of all kinds. Some we dry cased, without cutting. I'm going to show you the whole business by degrees, if we're lucky enough--”

He stopped short in what he was saying, and seemed to c.o.c.k his head on one side, as though listening.

”Say, I guess there must be some kind of bird or animal in your old chimney, Uncle Jim,” remarked Steve.

”I thought I heard it, too,” Owen declared.

All listened.

”There it goes again,” said Steve; ”and something dropped down right then. I was thinking of that story you told us where a bear came down through the big chimney of a cabin. Wow! Listen to that, would you?”

As Steve cried out in this way, the rattling in the chimney suddenly grew into an alarming noise. Then a large object fell with a crash into the fire.