CHAPTER XXIII
IN TROUBLE ONCE MORE
The next day it snowed again and the four boy hunters were almost in despair, for they had calculated to strike out for Firefly Lake as soon as it grew light.
"It would be foolish to try it just now," said Snap, looking at the sky. "just see how fast the snow is falling!"
The heavy snow kept up all day, but cleared away as evening came on.
Looking out about eight o'clock Shep gave a shout:
"Boys, the stars are shining. It is as clear as crystal!"
All rushed forth to verify the glad tidings. It was indeed clear and the glittering stars made a scene of royal splendor.
"We'll start for camp early to-morrow," announced Snap. "Now let us get to bed and get a good night's rest. It is going to be no picnic walking on this snow."
They turned in, after fixing the fire, leaving Giant on guard for the first three hours. After Giant came Whopper, and then Snap took his turn.
Snap had scarcely commenced his vigil when he heard the bark of a fox at a great distance.
Presently the barking of the fox ceased and utter silence reigned for all of half an hour. Then came another sound which made the leader of the Gun Club listen with intentness.
"Wolves, as sure as fate!" he murmured. "I trust they are not coming here!"
Another period of silence, and the mournful howls came still closer. There were many more of them and Snap came to the conclusion that a regular band of wolves were closing in on the little shelter beside the spruces.
"Guess I had better wake up Shep," he told himself. "He has got to take the next watch anyway."
He aroused his chum and told Shep of what he had heard. Then came more of the howls, still closer.
"They are certainly coming this way," said the doctor's son, picking up his gun. "And I'm afraid there must be quite a number of them."
After this came another period of silence. Both boys kept on the alert, Snap on one side of the camp and Shep on the other. They felt sure that the wolves were coming closer and they were not mistaken.
"I see one!" cried Snap, as a pair of gleaming eyes showed themselves over a rim of snow.
"I see three or four," responded Shep. "Call Giant and Whopper."
The words had scarcely left his lips when Snap took aim and fired at one of the wolves, wounding it in the shoulder. The report of the shotgun brought Giant and Whopper to their feet without delay.
"What's up?" came from both.
"Wolves!" answered the leader of the club, laconically. "Get your guns!"
The shot had caused the wolves to fall back a little, and taking advantage of this, Snap reloaded the empty barrel of his shotgun and stirred up the fire still more.
Bang! went Shep's shotgun, and a wolf was taken directly in his throat. He turned to run away and then fell dead. Without hesitation his fellows fell upon him and rent the carcass asunder.
"What horrible cannibals!" muttered Whopper. "Say, how do you like that?" he went on, and fired a bullet from the rifle into the mass of wolves, hitting one in the leg and another in the side. The first wolf was merely wounded but the second was killed.
The death of another of their band made the other wolves retreat and they kept away for fully a quarter of an hour. But then their numbers were increased by the arrival of more equally hungry, and they came on in a wide semi-circle, as if to pounce upon the four boy hunters and eat them up.
"Shoot 'em—don't let 'em come any closer!" called out Whopper, and banged away with his shotgun, hitting a wolf in the breast. Then the others fired and another of the ugly beasts went down. Still another was wounded just sufficiently to make him ugly, and with bloodshot eyes he leaped straight into the camp and at Snap's very feet!
It was a moment of extreme peril, and for the instant Snap's heart seemed to stop beating. Then little Giant turned swiftly and pulled the trigger of his shotgun and sent the load into the wolf's ear. There was one short yelp, a leap of agony, and the wolf landed in the fire, dead, scattering the burning embers in all directions.
"Good for you, Giant!" cried Snap, when he could speak. He caught the dead wolf and threw the body among the trees.
"Fix that fire up!" yelled Whopper. "It's our best protection!"
He ran for some sticks, and they built the fire into a roaring blaze that illuminated the forest for a considerable distance. Then Shep and Whopper fired more shots, wounding two more wolves, and the pack slowly retreated, growling and howling savagely.
"What an attack!" said Whopper, wiping the cold perspiration from his forehead. "I don't want to experience another."
Further sleep was out of the question, and for the remainder of the night the boys kept a good fire going and watched all around the temporary camp for their enemies. But the wolves did not show themselves again.
"And now for Firefly Lake and Birch Tree Inn!" cried Shep, when they were preparing breakfast. "My! the Inn will seem like home, after such experiences as we have had!"
It was clear and mild, with hardly any wind blowing. As the sun came up it made the great drifts of snow glitter and sparkle in a manner which was dazzling.
"Oh, look!" screamed Giant, just as they were getting ready to set out. "There's a shot for somebody!" and he caught up his gun.
Over the spruce trees a flock of wild ducks were soaring, evidently searching for food. They came quite close, and all of the young hunters blazed away, in rapid succession. Six of the ducks came down, one so straight that it hit Whopper directly on the head, almost knocking him over.
"There's luck for you!" cried Snap, gleefully, "We've got a few ducks anyway."
They placed the game in their bags, and a few minutes later bade farewell to the shelter of the spruces. It was so clear they could see the distant hills and mountains with ease and Snap regulated the course accordingly.
Some of the snowdrifts were truly immense, one, they reckoned, measuring twenty feet in height. They had to proceed with care, for they did not want to break through and sink out of sight. Once Whopper fell over and it was all the others could do to set him straight on his snowshoes again.
They had thought to take almost a direct course to Firefly Lake, but after covering a mile found this impossible.
"We'll have to take something of a round-about way," said their leader. "It will be longer, but it can't be helped."
"That will bring us between Firefly Lake and Lake Cameron, won't it?" asked Giant.
"Yes."
They hurried on for another mile. It was certainly hard work and made them warm in spite of the lowness of the thermometer. Then they came to a big drift of snow and found it no mean task to get over the same.
"Hark I what was that?" said Shep.
"A gunshot," answered Whopper. "There goes another."
After that they heard several more shots, coming from some point ahead.
"Some other hunters must be out," said Snap. "Wonder who they can be?"