Alec should remain at camp
to prepare for the grand feast while the others went in search of
rabbits. Walter and Hal, knowing the surrounding country, were to go
each on his own hook while Pat would take Sparrer with him. Just before
starting the two former held a whispered conference. They had brought in
with them a few gifts for Pat and his partner and also some small
packages which the home folks had pledged them not to open until
Christmas day. At Hal's suggestion it was decided to say nothing about
these until night and spring them as a surprise at the Christmas tree on
which Hal had set his heart.

As Pat had foreseen, there was a crust on which the shoes made no
impression. Hal elected to go down the north side of the brook while
Upton took the opposite side. Pat and Sparrer were to visit a certain
swamp not far distant. All were to be back at the cabin by eleven
o'clock.

To Upton the tramp in that wonderful wilderness of glistening white
meant far more than the hunt. As a matter of fact the very thought of
killing anything amid such pure surroundings was repugnant to him. To
this feeling a big white hare which foolishly sat up to stare at him
within fifteen minutes after he had left the cabin undoubtedly owed its
life. Slowly the rifle had been raised until the sights rested squarely
between the two innocent staring eyes. Then it had been as slowly
lowered. "I can't do it, puss. The others will get all we need to eat, I
guess, so suppose you remove your pretty self from the range of
temptation," said he, taking a sudden forward step. Thereupon puss
promptly acted upon his advice, and so precipitately that Upton laughed
aloud. "Merry Christmas!" he shouted as the bounding white form
disappeared.

That decided him. His heart was not in hunting that morning. What he did
want to do was just to tramp and drink in the beauty of the wonderful
scene. His rifle was a nuisance. He wished that he had not brought it at
all. Why not cache it and pick it up on his way back? A hasty survey of
his surroundings discovered a fire blackened hollow stub split its full
length on one side. It was the very thing he was looking for. It was a
landmark he could not very well miss on his return. He put his rifle in
it, tightened his belt, and then deliberately turned his back on the
valley and headed for the top of the ridge. He was in quest of views,
and not of game.

Climbing a ridge on a snow crust is no child's play, as Walter s