Part 32 (1/2)

”We can't walk that distance in this snowstorm,” said the latter decidedly.

”Not over those rough rocks, anyway,” added Randy. ”I feel as if my ankles were getting twisted out of shape.”

”Do you know in what direction the Lodge is from here?” questioned Spouter.

”I do not, except that you have to be on the top of the cliff to get to it. We were evidently headed the right way, although we must have walked in a big semicircle since we left the river.”

”I'm going to climb to the top of the cliff and have a look around,”

declared Jack. ”Here, take these guns and the game.”

It was no easy matter to mount to the top of the cliff which at this point was at least fifteen feet over their heads. But Jack finally made it, and was followed by Spouter and Gif.

Here, however, the view was no better than from below--the thickly falling snow hiding the landscape on every side. Night was coming on and it was growing colder, and the boys could not help but s.h.i.+ver.

”I guess the best thing we can do it to try to make ourselves comfortable for the night,” remarked Jack.

”How can we make ourselves comfortable without anything to eat?”

questioned Spouter.

”We've got the game. We can start a fire and cook some of that.”

”And besides, you must remember we have the things we bought at Henryville,” said Gif.

The three rejoined the others, and the question of what to do was put to the younger Rovers. Fred and Andy declared they could not tramp much further, and at once agreed that it would be best to try to make themselves comfortable for the night.

”It looks as if there might be some kind of shelter under those fallen cedars,” said Randy. ”Hanging down from the top of the cliff, they form a sort of lean-to.”

”I was thinking of that,” said Jack. ”Let us get under them and investigate.”

”Beware of more wildcats,” cautioned Andy.

”We'll use my flashlight,” said Gif.

This was done, he and several of the others investigated the spot under the fallen cedars with care. No trace of any wild animal, not even a rabbit or a squirrel, was found. Then the boys began to size up the situation, trying to determine how they could make themselves at home there for the night.

”First of all I think we had better build a fire,” suggested Gif. ”Then, after we have warmed up and rested a bit, we can prepare supper.”

With so much wood at hand it was an easy matter to start a campfire.

This was placed at one side of the opening under the fallen cedars, the boys taking care that the flames should not reach the trees. With their hatchet they cut off some of the cedar boughs and scattered these over the ground for a flooring. The driest they placed to one side to use for bedding later.

Fortunately while at Henryville they had purchased a fair-sized box of cocoa. This box was of tin, and Jack suggested that they dump the cocoa out on a sheet of paper which he had in his pocket and then use the tin for a pot in which to boil water.

”It won't make a very large cocoa pot, but it will be better than nothing, and we can fill it as many times as we please.”

The boys had several collapsible drinking cups with them, and these they would take turns in using.

”I'm mighty glad we bought that cheese,” remarked Spouter. ”That will help out quite a little,” for they carried a piece weighing almost two pounds.

Of the other things purchased at Henryville, only a box of fancy crackers could be used. There were two dozen all told, and these were divided by Randy, four crackers to each cadet.