Part 37 (1/2)

”About three miles, I should say.”

”Is there a pretty good road?” questioned Jack.

”The way by the mountain road would be all of five miles. But I know a fair trail through the woods that we might take.”

”Then let's get there as soon as possible!” cried Gif. ”Will you go with us, Jed?”

”O' course I will! If them Germans are traitors to this country, or anything like that, I want to know it,” answered the old hunter decidedly. ”I'm too old to enlist for the war, but I ain't too old to do my duty by Uncle Sam.”

”We might combine business with pleasure,” remarked Jack. ”We can take our guns and game bags, and also a substantial lunch. Then if we see any signs of game going or coming, we can take our time about getting back here.”

”One thing that brought me over was this,” went on Jed Wallop. ”I heard one of you young fellers sayin' you wanted to get a crack at a silver fox. Well, I know a holler about two miles from here where quite a few foxes are hangin' out. I've heard 'em barkin' around there more than once. I saw a silver fox up that way, too, and if he shows himself you might git what you are wis.h.i.+n' fer.”

”Fine!” exclaimed Jack, with enthusiasm. ”But is that hang-out of the foxes on the way to the old mansion you mentioned?”

”No, it ain't. But we might work around that way comin' back.”

A substantial lunch was prepared and packed, and then, after seeing to it that their guns were in good order, the five cadets and Jed Wallop left the Lodge.

”Mighty sorry I can't go along,” said Spouter dolefully. ”However, I wish you all the best of luck, not only in getting some information about those Germans, but also in locating the foxes.”

”And you can depend on me taking good care of d.i.c.k,” said Henry Stowell.

”All right, Henry,” answered Gif; for he and all of the others had been told how Codfish hated his nickname, and they had decided to do what they could toward dropping it, although, as Andy had remarked, ”It might be pretty hard to stop calling a donkey a donkey all the time.”

”We'll give the little sneak a chance to turn over a new leaf,” was what Jack had said in return. ”I don't believe Codfish is bad at heart--he's only been traveling in the wrong company.”

It was a fair day with the sun coming up clearly over the treetops. It was still intensely cold, but there was little or no wind, for which the lads were thankful.

”I suppose you have thinned out the game a good deal right around this Lodge,” remarked Jed Wallop. ”You know rabbits and squirrels don't like to hear the bangin' of a gun. They know mighty well it spells trouble fer 'em.”

A mile was covered before they sighted anything that looked like game.

Then a big fat rabbit ran directly across their path. To give the boys a chance, Jed Wallop did not fire, and as a consequence the bunny got away, none of the cadets being quick enough to get a shot at it.

”You've got to have your eyes open if you want to lay low all the game in these woods,” chuckled the old hunter.

”He was too close to us,” grumbled Gif. ”Why, he was out of sight before I could think of raising my gun!”

”You mustn't think, Gif. Jest fire and let it go at that,” and Jed Wallop grinned broadly. He was a man who loved company, and he thought it great sport to be out in the woods with the cadets.

After this they trudged along in silence, each of the lads keeping his eyes wide open for the possible appearance of any game. But nothing came to view.

”Now we'll soon be in sight of that old house,” announced Jed Wallop presently. ”It's on the other side of this hill.”

They topped the rise, and there saw before them a small clearing, beyond which was a rough mountain road. On the other side of the road was a thick patch of timber, and in the midst of this stood a long low house with a wide veranda in front.

”There is the Parkingham house,” said Jed Wallop. ”And unless I'm greatly mistaken that's where them Germans are hangin' out.”