Part 5 (1/2)
The boys continued the animated discussion, quite heedless of time The dead as examined onder, and they removed the scalp, in order to claied the buck partly onto one of the hand sleds
”I want the antlers,” said Brick ”I wouldn't go back to New York without them”
”We'll see to that,” replied Jerry ”Now, then, if you fellows are ready”
A moment later the march toward the headland was recorated over the ice and snow
Some s well out of sight behind the ti Jerry declared it to be a lynx or wolverine, and Ha ry wolves stole out of the forest and down to the ice They evidently scented the carcass of the deer They followed the little party persistently, and kept up aNow and then they circled near with swift leaps, only to bound back toward the shore again
”We must put a stop to this,” said Jerry ”Wait a un, and, when the trio of scavengers next approached as close as they dared, he gave the, but two of the brutes were slightly crippled All three fled, yelping, to the forest, and disappeared
Darkness was now creeping rapidly on Colder and colder careat stretch of ice-bound lake cracked like a pistol-shot The boys were anxious to reach their destination before twilight, and they altered their swinging stride to a jog-trot
At last they gained the jutting headland, and circled around its point
Here, on the shore of the lake, they found choice ca facilities
They picked on a shallow ravine that was comparatively open and ran back into the forest for thirty or forty yards On three sides it was sheltered by pine and spruce trees, and had an open frontage on the lake
”This is just the thing to build our cabin against,” said Haranite that was alhborhood for hunting and fishi+ng, too”
”The locality is all right,” replied Jerry, ”but I don't think it's wise to build right in the trough of this ravine A heavy storm would snow us up, and a thaould wash us out into the lake”
”No danger of a thaw,” declared Haers, ”and I don't believe we're going to have any big snowstorms, either You know your father said there were indications of an open winter
Besides, it will take too long to clear a place for building on higher ground Look how stout the ti of a woodshty snug place to me”
Jerry allowed hiht,” he said ”We'll take the chances Pitch in, fellows”
The sleds were unpacked, and the space in front of the rock was quickly cleared of snow, undergrowth, and loose stones
Armed with sharp axes, the boys felled and tri trees, and, under Jerry's supervision, the lean-to rapidly assuthen it Soft pine boughs were laid a foot deep on the floor, and an extra covering of the sa before the task was finished, but the boys worked on by lantern light The exercise made them feel quite warm It was a proud and happy , and comfortable beyond their expectations It had a s a strip of canvas over it, and the roof sloped at just the right angle
”We couldn't have more solid comfort if ere at hoet at us”
”And we've got protection frooing to bed right now”
”Not before supper?” exclaimed Brick, in a tone of such earnest alarhed merrily