ill
imbedded in the cliff, the tops rested in the snow below.

"Great salt mackerel!" cried Gif in dismay. "Well, now I have spilled
the beans!"

"What's up now?" questioned Randy quickly.

"I heard my uncle tell about this place. He visited it just after those
trees fell over. He said the spot was about three miles from the Lodge."

At this there was a groan from the twins and Fred.

"We can't walk that distance in this snowstorm," said the latter
decidedly.

"Not over those rough rocks, anyway," added Randy. "I feel as if my
ankles were getting twisted out of shape."

"Do you know in what direction the Lodge is from here?" questioned
Spouter.

"I do not, except that you have to be on the top of the cliff to get to
it. We were evidently headed the right way, although we must have walked
in a big semicircle since we left the river."

"I'm going to climb to the top of the cliff and have a look around,"
declared Jack. "Here, take these guns and the game."

It was no easy matter to mount to the top of the cliff which at this
point was at least fifteen feet over their heads. But Jack finally made
it, and was followed by Spouter and Gif.

Here, however, the view was no better than from below--the thickly
falling snow hiding the landscape on every side. Night was coming on and
it was growing colder, and the boys could not help but shiver.

"I guess the best thing we can do it to try to make ourselves
comfortable for the night," remarked Jack.

"How can we make ourselves comfortable without anything to eat?"
questioned Spouter.

"We've got the game. We can start a fire and cook some of that."

"And besides, you must remember we have the things we bought at
Henryville," said Gif.

The three rejoined the others, and the question of what to do was put to
the younger Rovers. Fred and Andy declared they could not tramp much
further, and at once agreed that it would be best to try to make
themselves comfortable for the night.

"It looks as if there might be some kind of shelter under those fallen
cedars," said Randy. "Hanging down from the top of the cliff, they form
a sort of lean-to."

"I was thinking of that," said Jack. "Let us get under them and
investigate."

"Beware of more wildcats," cautioned Andy.

"We'll use my flashlight," said Gif.

This was done, he and several of the others investigated the spot under
the fallen cedars with care. No trace of any wild animal, not even a
rabbit or a squirrel