Part 23 (1/2)

”In a few days. If you want me before that time give the signal;” for it had been arranged that when the boys wanted Jed Wallop to come over from where he lived they were to shoot a gun two times twice in succession.

”He won't have any sweet job of it getting to his place,” announced Fred.

”Fortunately, it isn't a great distance off,” answered Gif. ”If he had several miles to go, I doubt if he would be able to make it.”

Shutting up the stable and loading their arms with firewood from the shed, the six cadets made their way into the Lodge. When they opened the door the wind rushed in, causing the sparks and the ashes from the smouldering fire to fly in all directions.

”Shut that door!” Gif cried quickly. ”My, how that wind is rising!”

”Maybe it'll blow the bungalow over,” remarked Randy.

”Oh, I don't believe it will get as bad as all that, Randy,” said Jack.

”This looks as if it was a pretty substantial building.”

”You're right,” came from Gif. ”Those logs are good and heavy, and they were put together by some of the best workmen around here. This house won't go down unless the woods go down with it. But I am mighty glad we are under shelter where we can take it comfortable.”

”Do you know what I think?” said Fred. ”I think we ought to bring in more of that firewood. There is no telling if we'll be able to get any of it by morning if this snow keeps coming down.”

”A good idea, Fred,” said Jack. ”Let us go out at once and pile all the wood we can in the entryway beside the kitchen.”

Leaving Gif to stir up the fire so that the Lodge might get warm once more, the others hurried out to the woodshed. They made four trips from that place to the entryway beside the kitchen, each time bringing in all the logs they could carry.

”There! that wood ought to last us for two or three days,” declared Jack, when the task was done.

”Now I know what I'm going to do,” said Fred, as they re-entered the main building.

”What's that?” queried Spouter.

”I'm going to get at those dishes.”

”So are we!” declared Andy and Randy in a breath.

Water was heated, and it did not take long to dispose of the dirty dishes. While the three boys were doing this, the others cleaned up the living room of the bungalow, and also straightened out their beds. From time to time all gazed out of the small-paned windows, to see that the snow was coming down as thickly as ever.

”We're in for it, and no mistake,” said Gif finally. ”I don't think we'll be able to do much hunting for a day or two.”

”Well, that will give us a good chance to rest,” declared Jack. ”I don't know but what I would just as lief take a nap after lunch. That tramp in the wind after the rabbits made me sleepy.”

All were rather tired, and as a consequence the lunch was an informal affair, the boys warming up and opening a large can of pork and beans and making themselves a large pot of steaming chocolate.

”We'll have dinner to-night,” said Gif, and to this the others agreed.

Then they cleared the dishes away and took it easy, some resting in front of the fire and others on the beds in the rooms.

”If it gets much colder we'll have to pull some of those beds out into the living room and close the doors to the bedrooms,” announced Gif. ”I remember we did that one time when I was up here.”

By five o'clock the boys felt rested, and then began preparations for a regular dinner. Several of the rabbits were cleaned and cooked, and they also boiled some potatoes and onions. Then Gif and Jack prepared a pan of biscuits and a pot of tea.