he weather was unfavorable
for departure. A fine rain was falling from a sodden, gray sky, and the
air was quite warm and moist.

"It feels as though a change was coming," said Jerry. "I believe it will
clear off by evening and get cold. Then a crust will form on the snow
over night, and we can start early to-morrow morning."

"I hate to spend another day in this cooped-up place," replied Brick,
mournfully.

"It can't be helped," declared Hamp. "We don't want to travel in the
rain. Keep your spirits up, old fellow. The time won't seem long."

"You're right it won't," assented Jerry. "We've got a lot to do. First
of all, the catamount must be taken away from the cabin and skinned.
Then we ought to make a search back in the woods for those men. I'm
worried about them."

The others shared Jerry's anxiety, but it was agreed to postpone the
expedition until afternoon.

The boys went back to the cabin, and tied a rope about the catamount's
neck. After a great deal of trouble, they succeeded in dragging the body
to the mouth of the tunnel.

Then they set to work with sharp knives and removed the skin in good
condition. The carcass was hauled out on the ice, where it would
ultimately be devoured by wolves.

After a cold dinner, the boys donned snowshoes and oilskin coats and
sallied forth again. They traveled down the lake as far as the point
where they had seen the men make a crossing. Then they entered the
forest, and tramped backward and forward for several hours.

But not a trace could be found of the two prospectors, Raikes and Bogle,
or their camp. The boys searched long and carefully, and varied their
shouts by firing guns at frequent intervals. No reply came back. The
stillness of death reigned in the forest.

"It's no use," declared Jerry. "We may as well give up and return. I
don't suppose the men had more than a campfire, and the traces of that
are buried under the snow."

"But what became of them?" asked Hamp.

"I don't know," replied Jerry. "I'm sure they're not dead, anyhow."

"I'll bet they packed up and left for a safer neighborhood as soon as
they knew the storm was coming," said Brick. "They didn't leave since,
for we would see their tracks on the snow."

"That's about it," assented Jerry. "No doubt they struck back toward the
mountains. They didn't worry about us, for Raikes knew how snugly we
were fixed."

This solution to the mystery was accepted, and the boys returned to
their camp.