walk around to the rear if you want to," answered
Slugger's father. "I'll see if I can't bluff those fellows into letting
us in at the front."

Slugger and Nappy had just started to move away toward the lake shore,
intending to sneak behind some rocks and bushes, when they heard Fred
give a loud shout from the entrance to the second cabin. Then Andy gave
a long whistle.

"What's that for?" questioned Nappy quickly.

"See! they are waving their hands to somebody," announced Slugger. He
turned to gaze out over the lake. "A man is coming."

"What do you bet it isn't old Stevenson?"

"It is! See, he's coming as fast as he can!"

"Yes, and he has his gun with him," announced Asa Lemm somewhat feebly.

Attracted by the call from Fred and the loud whistle given by Andy, the
old lumberman had noted that a number of visitors were standing in front
of the two cabins at the upper end of Snowshoe Island. He was still a
considerable distance out on the lake, but his rapid skate strokes soon
brought him to the shore. Then, without waiting to unstrap his skates,
he came forward through the snow, his shotgun ready for use.

"Well, I'm mighty glad he's got here," murmured Jack, and his cousins
echoed the sentiment.

CHAPTER XXV

FACING THE WOLVES

"So this is how you treat me, eh?" exclaimed old Barney Stevenson, as he
confronted the visitors. "Come here to do as you please while I'm away,
eh?" and his face showed his intense displeasure.

"They wanted to go into your cabin, but we wouldn't let them do it while
you were away," said Jack quickly.

"Good for you, boys--I'm glad you kept 'em out."

"See here, Stevenson, this nonsense has got to end!" cried Slogwell
Brown. "You know as well as I do that you have no valid claim to this
island."

"The island belongs to me, Brown, and I intend to keep it!" was the
quick reply. "I've got my deed for it."

"That deed is no good, and you know it," broke in Asa Lemm.

"Look here! if you are so sure that Mr. Stevenson is in the wrong, why
don't you go to law about it?" questioned Jack, struck by a sudden idea.

"See here, boy, this is none of your affair," growled Slogwell Brown.
"We'll conduct our own business in our own way."

"And I'll conduct my own business in my own way, too!" interposed Uncle
Barney. "You get off of this island--all of you--just as quick as you
can," and he started as if to raise his gun.

"Now, see here, Stevenson----" began Slogwell Brown.