with a
happy laugh.

When the old hunter had departed with the turkey cock, the boys hung up
the dead hens and then proceeded to make themselves at home in the cabin
which had been assigned to them. They had quite something to do to build
a fire and to unpack and stow away the various things which they had
brought along, and almost before they were aware it was time for dinner.

"Shall we eat the game to-day?" questioned Randy.

"Oh, let us wait until to-morrow. Then Uncle Barney will be with us, and
he can enjoy it, too," answered Jack, and so it was decided. Then the
boys started in to get such a meal as their stores and the things which
the old lumberman had turned over to them provided.

It was great fun, and all of them felt in the best of spirits. Andy
could hardly keep himself down, and had to whistle at the top of his
lungs, and even do a jig or two while he moved about.

"It's going to be the best outing ever!" he declared over and over
again.

"Yes, and won't we have something to tell when we get back to Colby
Hall!" put in Fred.

It was over an hour later before dinner was ready. Having had such an
early breakfast, the boys did full justice to all the things they had
cooked, and they spent quite some time over the meal. After that they
continued to put the cabin in order, and cleaned their skates, and also
looked over their guns.

"We'll have to try these snowshoes to-morrow," announced Jack, referring
to a number of such articles which Barney Stevenson had hung on the
walls of the cabin. "Maybe we'll almost break our necks at first, but
there is nothing like getting used to a thing."

"What do you mean? Getting used to breaking your neck?" questioned Andy
dryly, and this brought forth a laugh all around.

About the middle of the afternoon the boys found themselves with but
little to do, and Fred suggested that they might go out and look for
more game.

"Oh, let's take it easy for the rest of the day, and go out early in the
morning," cried Randy.

"Let us go over to the other cabin and take a look around," suggested
Andy. "I'm sure old Uncle Barney won't mind. He's a fine old gentleman,
even though he is rather peculiar."

"I want to talk to him about Ruth Stevenson's folks some time," said
Jack; "but I'm afraid I'm going to have a hard time getting at it."

Andy led the way out of the cabin, and the four boys had almost reached
the place used by the old lumberman when suddenly Fred gave a