s skill with a gun.

"When I was here before there was quite a rabbit run on the other side
of the cedars behind this bungalow," declared Gif. "It isn't a long way
off. We could easily go that distance even through the snow."

"There wouldn't be any chance of our losing our way?" queried Spouter.

"Oh, no. It's not far enough off for that."

"Then let's go before the storm gets any worse," cried Andy.

"Yes, but how about the dishes to be washed?" asked Gif.

"Oh, Gif, can't we do them just as soon as we get back?" questioned
Fred.

"Last night's dishes are still standing in the kitchen," declared Jack,
looking somewhat sternly at his cousins.

"We'll get at them the minute we get back from our hunt for rabbits!"
exclaimed Fred. "Won't we, Andy?"

"That's a contract," declared the fun-loving Rover.

"All right then, see that you keep your word," answered Jack. "Remember,
Gif, no more grub for anybody until the dishes are washed."

"It's too bad we didn't bring some wooden dishes with us," remarked
Randy. "Then, after we had used them, we could put 'em in the fire."

"Lazybones!" called out Spouter. "You are as bad as the tramp who said
he didn't care to eat prunes because it was such a job to spit out the
pits;" and at this there was a general smile.

A little later the boys were ready for their first hunt. They had
discarded their overcoats for a number of hunting jackets of which the
bungalow boasted, and had also donned leggings and caps. Each looked to
see that his weapon was in first-class order and that he had a
sufficient supply of ammunition.

"We'll take only the shotguns along," said Gif. "You won't find any big
game in this immediate vicinity."

Fixing the fire so that it would keep until they returned, they locked
up and then started away. The snow was still coming down steadily, and
they were glad when they reached the shelter of the woods.

"You don't suppose Jed Wallop will come here during our absence?"
questioned Jack.

"If he does he'll know what to do," answered Gif. "He knows where the
key to the bungalow is, and I left a note for him in the stable, stating
that if he wanted to take the team away he could do so. He usually keeps
the horses up at his place, which is about half a mile from here."

Forward they trudged along a narrow trail leading through the woods. Gif
was at the front, with Spouter and Jack close behind and the others
following. Feeling that the rabbits might be o