CHAPTER VI
A FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP
Lake Cameron was a beautiful sheet of water, connected with the river by a narrow but deep creek lined on either side with thick blackberry and elderberry bushes. Around the lake the scenery was rather wild, and had it been closer to the railroad would have been a great spot for sportsmen. Even as it was, many came up there to hunt and to fish, and the boys were by no means certain that they would have even a small portion of the locality to themselves.
"I am going to see if I can't get a shot at something on the way," said Snap, as they turned into the creek. "There used to be wild turkeys up here, so Jed Sanborn told me."
"Is Sanborn out hunting?" asked the small youth of the crowd.
"Not just now, Giant. But he said he was coming to see us some time," answered Snap.
Snap had his shotgun ready for use, and so had one of the other young hunters. The rowboat glided along silently. The sun was just preparing to go down beyond the hills to the westward.
"Wait!" called Snap, in a low tone, and stood up. Those at the oars ceased rowing. The leader of the club took careful aim. Crack! went the piece.
"Touch anything?" asked Whopper.
"I did. Go ahead, and I'll pick it up." They rowed on, and a minute later Snap reached out of the boat and hauled in a fine wild turkey that was still fluttering faintly. A twist of the neck put it out of its misery, and the young hunter surveyed his game with satisfaction.
"First prize goes to Snap!" cried Shep. "Boys, we are sure of a turkey dinner to-morrow, anyway."
They continued on their journey, and at length came in sight of
Lake Cameron, surrounded by hills and the forest. A moment later
Whopper reached for his gun, took careful aim and fired.
"Only a rabbit," he announced. "But that is better than nothing."
"I should say it was," answered Giant, readily. "I'd like to bring down a game-bag full of them. Think of the rabbit pot-pie we could make!"
"Here goes for something," whispered Shep, and fired at a squirrel running around on a fallen tree. But the little creature was too nimble for him and got away unharmed.
"There is no use of my trying to get a shot at anything," announced Giant. "The noise has scared away the rest of the game. As soon as we land I am going to try my hand at fishing."
"You can do that now," replied Snap. "I'll take your oar. There are some flies in yonder little red box, and the white box had a few worms in it."
"I'll try a worm and look for a perch or two," answered the small lad.
He soon had his line out and baited up and began to troll at the end of the boat. In a few minutes he got a bite and pulled up a fair-sized perch. A sunfish followed, then a sucker, and then two more perch.
"What's the matter with that?" he asked, rather proudly.
"Nothing at all, Giant," answered Shep. "Shall I help?"
Giant agreed, and soon Shep had brought in another perch. By this time they had come to a suitable landing, and the rowboat was turned in and hauled well up on the shelving shore.
"I fancy this will make a good camping spot for to-night;" said
Snap. "In the morning we can decide upon what we want to do next."
"All right," said Shep. "Let us start up a camp-fire and make ourselves 'to hum,' as the old folks used to say."
Any quantity of dry sticks were to be had, and they had brought with them both an ax and a hatchet, so they soon had the sticks reduced to a proper size for burning. Near the shore were a number of bushes, and they cut out a spot in the center of these and over the top spread the canvas they had brought with them. For a flooring, they gathered some leaves, and over this spread a rubber blanket when it came time to go to bed.
It was very homelike and cheerful, gathering around the campfire, and all of the boys took a hand at preparing the supper which consisted of fried fish, baked potatoes, sandwiches, cake and coffee. They took their time over the meal, and did not finish until after eight o'clock. Then they sat around for an hour discussing their plans and telling stories.
"Now, the question comes up, do we stand guard at night?" asked Snap.
"Oh, let us all go to bed," answered Whopper. "I don't believe any cannibals are coming to carry us off—-or an elephant, either."
"What about a wildcat or a bear?" asked Shep.
"Well, if you are afraid you can stay awake," answered Whopper.
There was a moment of silence and then, close at hand, a hoot-owl let out an unexpected and exceedingly weird call. Whopper gave a jump and so did Shep, and then all of the young hunters laughed.
"I am willing to let the guard slide if the others are willing, too," said Snap; and so it was decided.
They fixed the fire so that it would not go out, and then one after another retired to the shelter among the bushes. The moon was shining far above the trees and the center of the lake glistened like a mass of silver. Occasionally they heard the hoot of the owl, and the far-off bark of a fox, but otherwise all was silent.
When the boys awoke, the sun was shining brightly. Shep was the first to rouse up and he slipped outside and looked around the clearing and on to the lake. Not a person or a creature was in sight. He stirred up the fire and piled on some wood and then began to wash up.
"Hullo! you up already?" The call came from Snap, and soon all of the others sprang up and came from the bush shelter.
"This is fine!" exclaimed Whopper. "My! but the lake looks grand enough to take a bath in."
"Better try it," returned Shep, drily. "But first I'd advise you to wash your face only."
Whopper ran to the shore and took a dip.
"Phew! Cold as Greenland's icy mountain!" he ejaculated. "Say, if a fellow took a bath in that he'd stiffen into a mummy. No swim for me this morning!" And after a good wash he fixed up, and the others followed his example.
All wanted some more perch, and they went fishing for their breakfast in true camping-out style. A mess was procured in less than half an hour, and then they got one of the pans hot, while Snap made coffee and brought out the last of the bread they had brought along.
"Our next bread or biscuits we'll have to make ourselves," observed the youth.
It was so nice to take it easy that the young hunters did not finish their breakfast and clean up again until the middle of the forenoon. During that time they talked matters over once more and decided to row around Lake Cameron and then make up their minds at what point to locate.
Once more the outfit was packed on board of the rowboat and they moved along the lake shore, slowly, taking in the advantages and disadvantages of every spot as they went along. Some places seemed too high and rocky and some too low and marshy, some too barren and others too overgrown with trees and brushwood.
At last the circuit of the lake was finished and then by mutual consent they turned back to a point where there was a sloping, sandy shore. The trees grew close to the water's edge north and south of this point, but there was a cleared spot, and back of this a series of rocks, where they discovered a spring of clear, cold water.
"I think this is the best camping spot of the lot," said Snap.
"Anyway, it suits me."
"Couldn't be better, and I am perfectly satisfied," returned Shep.
"Count me in on stopping here," came from Giant.
"Why, this is a perfect paradise," remarked Whopper. "A fairyland of beauty and natural resources. I could live here a million years and never weary of gazing at the lake and——-"
"Looking for something to eat," finished Shep. "No, I don't want a million years of this. But I think a few weeks will do very nicely."
"Well, if we are going to stay here, the question is, what sort of a shelter are we going to put up?"
"Oh, let us build a regular log cabin!" cried Giant. "It will be such fun."
"A log cabin isn't built in a day," answered Snap. "To build a good cabin will take quite some time. But we might build some kind of a shack," he added, as he saw the small lad's face fall. "There are four small trees almost in a square. We can cut them off and they will do for the corner-posts, and another tree in line with two in front will do for a door-post."
"Hurrah! Snap has solved the problem of a cabin!" shouted Whopper. "I declare, Snap, you want to take out a license as an architect and builder. We'll go to work to-morrow—-as soon as we've gotten together something to eat." And in his joy, Whopper turned a handspring on some dead leaves, coming down on his back with a thump. "Wow! I'll not try that again in a hurry!" he grunted.
"We can take turns at building," said Shep. "Each day two can work on the cabin and two can go hunting or fishing. At the start we needn't to go after anything but small game."
"That's it," said Snap. "But if any big game comes our way we can bring it down."
"Or make a try at it," corrected Giant.