Part 17 (1/2)

CHAPTER XVII

A HUNT FOR FOOD

Randy and Earl were much dismayed by their uncle's announcement The _Wild Goose_ had disappeared! Where to? Ah, that was the question In vain they tried to pierce the darkness of the night and the snow-squall

Nothing in the shape of a craft could be discerned upon the broad waters of Lake Bennett

”I told ye to rowled Captain Zoss, wrathfully, to Earl ”Any lubber could have tied her up better than you did”

”You expectto lose his temper, too ”I did the best I could Why didn't you look after it?”

”He was too busy taking it easy by the fire,” put in Randy, bound to stand up for his brother, as well as to put in a ”shot” for himself

”None o' your impudence, boy!” roared the captain, and he turned as if to strike Randy But now Foster Portney caught his arm and threw it back

”Stop it, all of you!” said he ”This is no time to quarrel The wind, and not Earl, is responsible for this, for I looked to the tying up myself, after he was done We're all out of sorts, but we needn't act like children over it Our duty is to find the boat, and that as quickly as possible”

”I reckon she's gone down the lake,” grumbled the captain, after an aard pause ”The wind's that way”

”We'll go down and see if we can't sight her,” answered Foster Portney

Away they went on a run Earl, as tall and light in weight, easily outdistanced the rest and reached a rocky cliff, where the lakeinto a narrow gulch, cutting his chin and his left hand Picking hiht to warn the others,” was his thought, and he turned and hurried back

Captain Zoss was ahead of the others and was on top of the cliff when Earl shouted to hiet hurt!” came at the top of his voice, and the captain halted just in time to save hiulch and up at the other side, and yelled a warning to those behind Soon all four stood upon another level stretch of the lake shore

Nothing was to be seen--that is, nothing but the flying snowflakes dropping into the wind-swept and white-capped waters beneath They continued to walk on, until the cold chilled each to the et back and wait till h ”We can do nothing in the darkness Let us hope the boat will beach herself so teeth they started on the return, Randy by his uncle's side and Earl behind Captain Zoss Half the distance to the tent had been covered when the captain paused and ranged up beside Earl

”Earl, you it in it 'em every once in a while, see? It's nateral with me--allers was

But I ain't bad at heart, an' I shan't forgit ye for savin' me a dirty fall,would have torn loose in this yere gale” He paused for a moment ”An' I didn't hten folks--a poor way, too, as I acknowledge Co on, his head bent far down, to keep the snow froht he and the captain were better friends than ever Later on Randy received a like ”apology,”

and when he got to know the captain better voted hih a bit cranky at times”

Dr Barwaithe was as dismayed as any of thereed that nothing was to be accoed the cooking stove up to the entrance to the tent and was trying to start a fire

Twice the tiny flaorously, the wood caught, and soon the stove was red-hot, the top spluttering with the snowflakes which fell upon it The fire warht the party rested co of ht o'clock the sun was struggling to shi+ne through the drifting clouds The captain, as if to atone for histo Earl and Randy the best of the flap-jacks turned out The captain was a great hand at these cakes, and the party was certain to get them whenever he was cook