ted Jack. "We'll prop the wolf up
against a tree, and then take a photograph of Fred shooting at him;"
and so it was decided, and the boys had much fun taking the picture.

Several days passed, and no one came near the island. In the meantime,
the boys went out hunting every day, and Barney Stevenson showed them
how to fish through a hole in the ice. This was great sport, and they
had the satisfaction of adding a number of pickerel and perch to their
bill of fare. During those days, they cooked and ate the wild turkeys,
and found the meat quite palatable.

"We sure are having one dandy time," said Fred one evening, when sitting
in front of the blazing fire.

"I don't see how it could be any better, Fred," answered Andy.

"And just think of what we've brought down in the way of rabbits,
squirrels, pheasants, woodcocks and turkeys!"

"Not to say anything about my wolf," came from Fred.

"Yes, and a shot I got at a brook mink," added Jack. He had seen the
mink at a distance, but had been unable to bring the game down.

Uncle Barney had been with the boys at supper time, but had taken
himself over to his own cabin, to smoke and to read one of several books
the boys had given him.

"I think I'll go over and see the old lumberman," said Jack presently.
"You fellows can stay here."

"Going to talk to him about Ruth and her folks?" questioned Randy.

"Yes, if I get the chance."

"I wouldn't worry him too much," said Fred. "He hasn't gotten over that
visit from Professor Lemm and the others yet."

"Oh, I'll be careful--don't worry about that."

The old lumberman was a bit surprised to have Jack walk in on him, but
the youth had brought his gun along, and he asked Uncle Barney to
examine the hammer of the weapon.

"It looks all right to me," said the old lumberman, after an
examination; "but I'll put on a few drops of oil, and then maybe it'll
work easier. It won't do to have the hammer stick just when you want to
use it."

"And now, Uncle Barney, if you'll permit me, I'd like to speak of
something else," said Jack, as he dropped into a seat alongside of the
fireplace. "I've got something on my mind, and I want to see if you
can't help me out."

"Something on your mind, eh?" returned the old man kindly. "Well, if I
can help you out, you can depend on old Uncle Barney to do it," and he
smiled broadly.

"It isn't exactly my trouble, Uncle Barney. It's somebody else's," went
on the oldest Rover boy. "A young la