emarked Randy.

"You'll have plenty of chances to go out after game after you're settled
at the regular camp," returned the old lumberman. "The game isn't going
to run away, you know," and he smiled pleasantly.

Breakfast at an end, the boys lost no time in repacking their
belongings, and Uncle Barney assisted them in fastening the load to the
bobsled.

"But I'm going to carry my shotgun this time," announced Fred. "Then, if
any game appears, I'll be ready for it."

"You can all carry your guns if you want to," said the owner of the
island. "I'll leave my weapon strapped to the sled, so that if any game
appears you boys can do the shooting."

The little cabin was closed up, and then the party made its way down
over the rough rocks and between the trees to the lake shore. It was no
easy matter to bring the bobsled along, and once Fred slipped on one of
the smooth rocks and pitched headlong into a snowbank.

"Hi you! stop your fooling!" cried Andy, and then, in great glee, he
picked up a chunk of snow and hurled it at Jack.

"Let up!" cried the oldest Rover boy. "This is no time for jokes!" and
then, as Andy came at him with another chunk of snow, he jumped at his
cousin, put out his foot, and made the fun-loving youth measure his
length in a drift.

"Wow! but that snow is cold!" cried Andy, who had gotten some down the
sleeves of his sweater. "Stop! Don't bury me! I'll be good!" And then he
scrambled to his feet once more, while Fred did the same. Then the whole
party proceeded on its way.

Reaching the lake, they lost no time in putting on their skates, and
then, with Uncle Barney leading the way, the four Rovers followed,
dragging the loaded bobsled behind them.

On all sides could be seen snowdrifts and ridges of snow piled in
curiously fantastic shapes. But the keen wind of the afternoon and night
had cleared many long reaches of the ice, and over these reaches Uncle
Barney picked his way, gradually working closer and closer to the upper
end of Snowshoe Island.

"We'll turn in here," he announced presently, when they came to where
there was something of a cove. "There seems to be quite a cleared space.
It won't be very long now before we reach the upper end."

As they turned in once more toward the island, Jack noticed a peculiar
fluttering among some trees not far away.

"Wait a minute!" he cried out in a low tone. "I think I see some game!"

All came to a halt, and then Uncle Barney looked in the d