ap stopped you," said Shep.

"That's what---and I am mighty thankful, Snap," replied Whopper
gratefully.

"Well, we'll have to go back, that is all there is to it," remarked
the doctor's son after a pause, during which they looked across
the rocks in perplexity. "I thought sure we could go this way,
but it seems as if we can't."

To climb down the rocks was as great a task as it had been to climb
up, and by the time they reached the bottom all were thoroughly
hungry. It now lacked but an hour and a half of noon.

"We'll never get to camp by dinner-time," declared Snap. "And I'm
not going to do without breakfast and dinner, too. I move we light
a fire and cook those rabbits. I've got a little coffee left,
enough for three weak cups, I guess."

The others agreed, and reaching a comfortable spot, they cut a
little wood and made a fire. Then they sat down to rest while the
skinned and cleaned rabbits were broiling. Snap made the coffee
and, though rather weak and without milk and sugar, they drank it
eagerly. They had a little salt for the rabbits, but that was all.
But hunger and fresh air are great appetizers.

The scant meal at an end, they resumed their journey, the doctor's
son taking the lead. They moved in a semicircle around the base
of one small mountain and then reached a rather broad mountain
torrent.

"Hello, here's a surprise!" cried Snap. "I had no idea such a big
brook flowed through these parts."

"Nor I," added Shep. "Looks as if there might be good fishing here."

The boys noted the location of the brook, so that they might visit
it another day, and then pushed on as before. They reached a slight
rise and all concluded that their camp was directly to the west.

"In that case all we'll have to do is to follow the sun," declared
Whopper.

"Right you are," responded the doctor's son.

"How far do you calculate it is?"

"Not more than two miles."

"It may be a little more," said Snap. "But not much."

They plunged into the woods once more, and had hardly proceeded a
hundred yards when they heard some partridges drumming. It was a
chance for another shot, and they hurried forward with guns ready
for use.

"I see them!" cried Snap, and blazed away, and the others followed
suit. They were unusually lucky, for five of the birds fell, either
dead or fatally wounded. Soon they had the game in their bags.

"There! that is something like!" cried Snap. "They'll make fine
eating.