Part 21 (1/2)

”We'll keep the fourth room for possible visitors,” announced Gif. ”You know, Glutts and Werner may call on us,” he added quizzically.

”Of course they'll call--when they are invited!” declared Jack. ”Not but what it's your house, Gif,” he added quickly.

”They'll never come here on my invitation,” was the ready response.

Their previous experience in camping out stood the six cadets in good stead, and they knew exactly how to leave their fire so that it would keep burning until morning without doing any damage. Then, one after another, they speedily shoved off to bed and soon all of them were slumbering peacefully after a long and arduous day's traveling.

In the morning Jack was the first to arise and he was speedily followed by Gif and Spouter.

”Might as well let the others sleep for a while,” said the oldest Rover boy. ”They were pretty well tired out, Fred and Andy especially.”

”Sure, let 'em sleep as long as they want to. Our time is our own, and there is no use in hurrying. Just the same, I bet Fred wakes up pretty quick when he smells boiling coffee and pancakes.”

Some pancake flour had been brought along, and soon the appetizing odor of the cakes, along with the odor of steaming coffee, filled the Lodge.

Then came a call from one of the bedrooms, and, sure enough, it was Fred speaking.

”Hi there! don't you eat all those good things up before I get there,”

he called out. ”Say! this air certainly gives a fellow an appet.i.te.”

By the time breakfast was ready all of the boys were dressed. Jack and Spouter had gone outside for more wood, and they reported that it had begun to snow hard.

”All right, let it snow,” said Randy. ”Now that we are here, what do we care?”

”Well, we don't want to get snowed in,” remarked Spouter.

”Oh, I don't think the storm will be as bad as that,” returned Gif.

”Just the same, I'm glad we didn't get caught last night in a downfall.

We might have had worse luck than ever in getting here.”

By the time breakfast was finished it was snowing heavily. There was a fairly strong wind blowing, and this sent the fine particles flying in all directions. When they went out to feed the horses they found the snow already an inch or more in depth.

”I think this is going to add quite a little to what is already on the ground,” said Jack. ”If it keeps on for any length of time it will make hunting rather difficult.”

”Why can't we go out and do some hunting before the storm gets too bad?”

questioned Fred. Now that he had reached the Lodge he was exceedingly anxious to try his skill with a gun.

”When I was here before there was quite a rabbit run on the other side of the cedars behind this bungalow,” declared Gif. ”It isn't a long way off. We could easily go that distance even through the snow.”

”There wouldn't be any chance of our losing our way?” queried Spouter.

”Oh, no. It's not far enough off for that.”

”Then let's go before the storm gets any worse,” cried Andy.

”Yes, but how about the dishes to be washed?” asked Gif.

”Oh, Gif, can't we do them just as soon as we get back?” questioned Fred.