"Yes; right behind the big rock to the left---the purest water in these parts, so I always thought."

They lost no time in going ash.o.r.e, running the rowboat up into a tiny cove, where an overhanging rock acted as a dock. There was a small, cleared s.p.a.ce between the tall trees, and to one side grew a clump of trees in something of a semi-circle. Snap ran forward to investigate.

"Why, Jed, what does this mean!"

"Here is a shack already!"

"Some other hunters must have been here!"

"I was here last season, with two gentlemen from New York," explained the hunter. "I built that shack fer 'em. You can use it until you put up something better---that is, if you decide to stay here."

"Let us stay by all means!" cried Shep, gazing around. "It's a beautiful spot."

"Better than the one we had to give up at Lake Cameron," came from Giant. "How about hunting, Jed?"

"Jest as good around here as t'udder lake, my boy."

A vote was taken, and all of the boys decided that they would remain at the spot. This being settled upon, they brought their stores ash.o.r.e and placed them in the shack, so that no further rain could get at them.

"We have lost enough through the rain and that bear," said Snap, and then had to tell Jed Sanborn all about the mysterious midnight visitor.

"Oh, but I wish I had been on hand---to git a crack at that bear!"

cried the hunter. "I ain't had a crack at a bear fer some time.

They are gittin' scarce around here."

It was time to eat again, and they made a splendid dinner of some baked maskalonge, Jed Sanborn showing them how to turn out the fish in a manner that was appetizing to the last degree. Shep also made some biscuits, which, if they were not first-cla.s.s, were far from what boys usually call "sinkers."

"I hope n.o.body comes to disturb us here," said Snap. "I think if we are left alone we'll have the time of our lives."

While they ate they discussed the question of putting up another cabin. Giant was very eager to go ahead and so was Whopper---both loving the work fully as much as they loved hunting and fishing.

"All right, we'll build a cabin," said Snap. "But first we must get together something to eat, as we did before."

That afternoon all went out hunting with Jed Sanborn and he showed them where to find a good supply of rabbits, and took them to a hollow among the hills where the partridges were thick. All fired at once, and as a consequence they got eight of the game.

Their rabbits numbered sixteen, and they also brought down three squirrels. Coming back to the camp, Jed Sanborn took a long shot at some wild ducks that were flying overhead and brought down two, which he added to their stock.

"Now, do a little fishing, and you'll have enough to eat fer a week," he said.

"Before you go away I want you to show us how to set some traps, Jed," said Snap.

"I'll do that," was the answer, and the very next day the old hunter made for them a trap to catch birds, another for mink and also a beaver trap.

"When I come ag'in I'll bring you something to put in the beaver trap," said the hunter. "It's a stuff we call barkstone. The beavers can't resist it nohow. As soon as they smell it they have to walk right into the trap after it." He referred to castoreum, a liquid obtained from the beaver, or castor, itself and having a powerful odor which acts on the animal just as catnip acts on a cat.

The weather had now turned off colder and they were glad to huddle close to the camp-fire at night. Before going to bed the hunter told the boys a bear story that all p.r.o.nounced a "rattler."

The building of the new cabin began in earnest the next day, and Jed Sanborn told them how it might be put together to the best advantage, and even aided in cutting down some of the necessary logs.

"I've got to go back to town to-morrow," he said. "But I'll come back here before very long. I'll bring you anything you want."

"In that case I'll make out a list," answered Snap, and did so, with the aid of the others. Jed Sanborn left the next day at noon; and it was some time before they saw him again.

"And now to get at this cabin in earnest," said Shep, after the departure of the hunter.

Jed Sanborn had shown them how they might pile up some rocks for a rude chimney, banking up the lower part outside with dirt, and this they finished first. Then the top was put on the new structure and the sides, one end having a small door and the other an even smaller window. The flooring was of hard dirt, with cedar boughs in two corners for couches. In the shack they found a rude bench and a table, and these they transferred to the cabin. When they tried their new fireplace they found it worked well, the smoke going up the rude chimney without difficulty.

"Now, this is something like!" declared Giant, as he surveyed the work. "Even in a storm we can be quite comfortable here."

"Providing the roof doesn't leak," declared Shep. "When it rains we must watch for leaks and try to stop them up---with bark or with the canvas."

CHAPTER XII

SHEP AND THE HOLLOW TREE

For several days after the cabin was finished, the boys rested from their labors and took it easy. An unusually warm spell followed the short cold snap and one day, at noon, all took a dip in the lake. But the water was so cold they remained in only a few minutes and all were glad enough to hurry back into their clothing.

"A cold bath like that goes a good ways," declared Shep. "If a fellow stayed in too long he'd freeze to death."

"Why, my back is full of icicles now!" declared Whopper. "Feels as if I had gotten locked in a refrigerator by mistake."

"Like the tramp they caught at Westport last summer," came from Giant, with a laugh. "He stole a ride on the cars and got into a refrigerator car by mistake. The car was packed with ice and wasn't opened for forty-eight hours after it started. The poor tramp was about half dead when they got him out."

Early on the following Friday morning, Shep and Snap went out on a hunt, leaving Whopper and Giant to look after the camp and fish, if they felt like putting out any lines. It was a bright, breezy day and all of the boys were in the best of humor.

"We may not be back until late," said Snap, as he and Shep moved away. "So don't worry if you don't see us."

"All right---we'll save you some supper," answered Whopper.

Snap and Shep had decided to try their luck in the woods to the north of Firefly Lake, taking to an old deer trail that Jed Sanborn had pointed out to them. They were after any game that might appear, but did not look for anything big, for the older hunter had informed them that it would be next to impossible to spot any deer until the snow was on the ground.

Each youth carried his shotgun and his gamebag, containing his dinner, and also a good supply of ammunition.

The boys walked a good half mile before they saw any indications of game. Then Snap called a halt and pointed to a little clearing.

Looking through some brushwood, Shep made out half a dozen wild turkeys, feeding peacefully.

"We ought to get at least two of them," whispered Snap. "All ready?"

"Yes."

"Then fire when I tell you."

They came a little closer, and both boys took careful aim. At the word the two shotguns rang out, and to the delight of the two young hunters down came three of the wild turkeys. The rest flew away among the trees and were lost to sight immediately.

"That's a haul!" cried Shep, and ran forward.