and, finding a little cleared space, they built
a tiny campfire and proceeded to make themselves at home. They passed a
full hour over the mid-day meal, for the constant skating and tramping
through the woods and climbing over the rocks was very tiring.

"It won't be long before our vacation will be at an end," observed Fred.
"Only a few days more, and we'll have to get into the grind again at
Colby Hall."

"Don't dare to mention lessons yet, Fred!" cried Andy. "Time enough for
that when the school bell rings."

"I was hoping Mr. Stevenson would get up here before we left," said
Jack. "I want to see how he and old Uncle Barney get along."

"Maybe he's staying away on purpose, so that he'll have a chance to see
the old man alone," suggested Randy.

The middle of the afternoon found the four young hunters near the end of
the frozen-up watercourse, at a point where it ran in summer over some
rough rocks into the lake below. Here the ground was very irregular, and
once Fred slipped into a hollow, giving his left ankle a bad twist.

"Ouch!" he cried, and made a wry face.

"Much hurt?" asked the others quickly.

"I--I don't think so," answered the youngest Rover slowly. He pulled
himself up and took a step or two. "I guess it is all right; but it was
a nasty tumble, just the same."

"We've got to be careful. It won't do for any of us to sprain an ankle
or break a leg," cautioned Jack.

They had gone only a short distance further when Randy suddenly put up
his hand.

"I saw something flit through the snow near yonder rocks," he whispered,
pointing.

"I see it!" ejaculated Jack, and with these words he took hasty aim, and
fired. Then his cousins saw another movement in the snow, between some
nearby rocks, and they, too, discharged their weapons.

There was a commotion both in the direction in which Jack had fired, and
also down between the nearer rocks, and, rushing up, the four young
hunters beheld two minks, whirling about in the snow, each badly
wounded.

"Mink, boys! Think of it!"

"Don't let them get away!"

These cries mingled with several more rapid reports, as one lad after
another fired a second charge. This time their aims were better, and in
a moment each of the minks lay stretched out on the rocks, dead.

"I think there was a third one," observed Randy, "but he must have got
away."

"Well, we've got two, anyway," answered Jack with some pride. "What
beautiful creatures they are!"

Each of