ow what do you suppose that is?" whispered Fred.

"I think I know, Fred," was Jack's reply; "and if I am right, get ready
to fire as soon as I do."

The two boys with the shotguns went in advance, and soon reached a point
where they could look beyond the bushes. Then came a sudden whirr, and
up into the air went a small flock of pheasants.

Bang! bang! rang out Jack's fowling piece, and bang! bang! came the
report of Fred's firearm.

The strange whirring continued, but then three of the birds were seen to
drop to the ground, one dead and the other two seriously wounded.

"Hurrah! we've got three of them!" cried Fred excitedly, and then ran
forward, to quickly put the wounded birds out of their misery.

"Say, that's some luck!" exclaimed Randy. "If I----"

Randy stopped short, and so did some of the others who had started to
speak. A strange sound from a distance had reached their ears.

"Help! help!" came in a low cry. "Help! For heaven's sake, somebody come
and help me!"

CHAPTER V

UNCLE BARNEY STEVENSON

"What is that?"

"It's somebody calling for help!"

"It's a man's voice; and he must be in pretty bad shape to call like
that!" burst out Jack.

"Hello there!" yelled Randy. "Where are you?"

"Here! Under the fallen tree!" came in a faint cry. "Help me, quick!"

"I think the cry came from that direction," said Andy, pointing with his
hand.

"And I think it came from over there," added his twin, pointing off at a
right angle to the first direction given.

"I think Andy is right!" exclaimed Jack. "Anyway, he and I can go off in
that direction, while you, Randy, and Fred can see if you can locate him
over yonder."

Neither of the boys had been exactly right in locating the cry for
assistance, which had come from a point about midway between the two
places suggested, but it was Jack who saw a large fallen tree from a
distance and ran quickly toward it, yelling for all of the others to do
likewise.

The sight which met their gaze filled them with a pity and a strong
desire to be of assistance. There, in the snow, lay an elderly man, clad
in the garb of a hunter or lumberman, with a shotgun and a well-worn
game bag beside him. Over the man's legs and one outstretched arm,
rested the upper portion of a large pine tree, which had evidently
crashed down because of the weight of snow upon it but a short time
before. The man lay on his chest, and it was all he could do to raise
his head to cry