s he kissed her good-bye.

Several of the neighboring boys had come to see them off, and there was
a little bit of envy as these watched the Rovers depart. They went to
the railroad station in one of the limousines, only the two girls going
with them to see them off.

"Now don't get hurt, Jack," said Martha, when it was almost time for him
to take the train. "Remember, if you do, Ruth will never forgive
you," and she gave her brother a roguish look which, somehow, made his
cheeks burn.

[Illustration: "WHAT A NICE LETTER FOR HIM TO WRITE!" EXCLAIMED RUTH.

_Page 191_]

"Aw, cut that, Martha!" he answered. And then, of a sudden, he
continued: "You join those girls at Clearwater Hall, and I'll pick a
fine cadet for you to go out with."

"Boo!" cried Martha, and put out the tip of her tongue at him. "Who said
I wanted any of your old cadets!" Then, as he and his cousins ran for
the train, she waved him an affectionate farewell.

The boys had obtained seats in advance in one of the parlor cars, and
soon they made themselves comfortable. They talked over what had
happened while their visitors had been with them, and presently
commenced to discuss the expected hunting on and around Snowshoe Island.

"We ought to have a dandy two weeks," was Fred's comment. "Just think of
it! For fourteen days we'll be able to do exactly as we please!"

"Yum-yum!" added Randy. "Sleep as long as you please, eat when you
please and as much as you please, and shoot all the game you want to!
What more could a fellow want?"

"And cut all the firewood you want to! And wash all the dirty dishes you
want to! And miss all the really good game you want to----" commenced
Andy.

"Jump on him!"

"Throw him out of the window!"

"Let's make him go without his supper to-night!"

So the cries went on as the three others caught Andy by the arms and by
the coat collar.

"Hold up! I surrender!" gasped the fun-loving youth. "Let up! will you?"

"You've got to promise to be good and not throw cold water on our
hopes," announced Jack. "We're going to have the best time ever on
Snowshoe Island. And not a thing is going to happen to mar our
pleasure."

But in this last surmise the oldest Rover boy was sadly mistaken. Many
things of which he and his cousins did not dream were to occur, not only
to startle and annoy them, but also to place them in extreme peril.

CHAPTER XX

CAUGHT IN A SNOWSTORM

"Next station stop Rockville!"

"Tha