d brought down two of them.
Later still they saw a squirrel, but though Spouter shot at the frisky
creature, it managed to elude him.

"Well, we can't expect to bag everything we shoot at," consoled Jack.

"I think I know of a short cut from here to the Lodge," said Gif. "So if
you would rather tramp through the woods than go back by way of the
river, we might do so and get a chance at some other game."

"All right, Gif; lead the way," said Jack, and they went forward under
Gif's guidance.

They were deep in the forest when they heard a whir overhead. They
looked up quickly to see a number of partridges sailing past close to
the tree tops.

"Quick!" yelled Jack, and blazed away, while all of the others did the
same.

CHAPTER XX

LOST IN THE WOODS

There was no time wasted in shooting at the partridges which were flying
along so close to the tree tops. The six cadets did their best but four
of the charges went wild. The aim of Jack and Gif was effective, and one
wounded partridge came fluttering down to the snow while another dropped
dead on the branches of a nearby cedar.

"Hurrah! we've got two of them, anyhow," cried Gif, as he reached
forward and quickly put the wounded bird out of its misery.

"We've got two provided we can reach that one up in the tree," answered
Jack. "I'm afraid it's going to be some climb to get it down."

"That's so," said Randy.

"Oh, I can get up there in no time!" cried Andy gayly. "Here, take my
gun," and with his usual agility he was soon mounting the branches of
the big tree, taking particular delight in shaking down great masses of
loose snow on the heads of those below.

As is usual with cedars, the branches were close together, and Andy soon
found he would have his own troubles in reaching the point where the
dead partridge rested. However, he kept on, worming his way upward as
best he could, until he was within a few feet of the prize.

"Some climb, believe me!" he called out to those below. "This tree is
almost as close-grown as a cedar bush."

Up went Andy, and presently managed to get hold of the dead partridge
and drew the game toward him. Just as he did this he heard a peculiar
sound a few feet below him on the other side of the tree.

"Hello! is somebody following me?" he questioned, looking down to see
what the movement among the branches below meant.

There was no reply to his question, and Andy came to the conclusion that
the branches must have b