CHAPTER XXIV
A DISAGREEABLE MEETING
They had reached a point directly between Firefly Lake and Lake Cameron when they came to a little patch of woods surrounding a pond less than a hundred feet across. As they entered the woods they heard a slight noise and saw a small deer running swiftly across the snow on the pond. At once Whopper let drive and so did Snap, and the deer went down, kicked for a moment, and then lay still.
The game had been struck in the rump and in the neck, but there was another wound in one ear and still a fourth near the tail.
"Must have been hit before she came this way," said Giant.
As the young hunters surrounded the game they did not notice the
approach of three men on snow-shoes, all carrying guns and gamebags.
The three men were Andrew Felps and two of his particular friends,
Giles Faswig and Vance Lemon.
"Hi! what are you doing here?" demanded Andrew Felps, striding up angrily. "Didn't I warn you off of my land last summer? You have no right to hunt here."
"They have the deer!" put in Giles Faswig. "Hang the luck anyhow."
"Never mind, the deer belongs to us—it was shot on my land," muttered
Andrew Felps.
"Certainly it is your deer if it was shot on your land," put in Vance
Lemon.
The four boy hunters listened to the talk in considerable dismay.
Evidently the three men intended to appropriate the game.
"Is this your land?" asked Whopper.
"We didn't see any fence," put in Snap.
"The fences are there anyway—I had them put up last fall, after the fire. You have no right to even cross my land, much less do any shooting."
"Felps, ain't you going to claim the deer?" asked Giles Faswig.
"Certainly I am. But I want these young rascals to understand that they can't come on my land," answered the lumber dealer.
"Mr. Felps, we are not young rascals," said Shep, with flashing eyes. "We shot the deer in good faith and if you take it from us I shall consider it stealing."
"Listen to that!" ejaculated Vance Lemon. "And after we wounded the deer first, too!"
"I won't talk to you," cried Andrew Felps, savagely. "Leave that deer alone, and get off of my land as quick as you can—and stay off!"
His manner was so savage and threatening that the young hunters felt compelled to retreat. Yet they were very angry.
"Mr. Felps, I think you'll be sorry for this some day," said Snap. "When I get back to Fairview I shall tell everybody just how meanly you have acted."
"Hi! don't you threaten me!" roared the irate lumber dealer. "I know my business. You clear out—and be quick about it."
"I suppose you and your friends want our deer because you're not able to shoot one yourselves," called out Whopper, and with this parting shot the young hunters withdrew. All of the men shook their fists at the boys.
"Now, wouldn't that jar you!" exclaimed Shep, as they turned toward
Firefly Lake. "Did you ever hear of such meanness?"
"He's as bad as he was last summer, when he drove us away from Lake
Cameron," said Snap, bitterly.
For some time after that the young hunters were silent, each busy with his own thoughts. Driven away from the vicinity of Lake Cameron, they had to make another wide detour, and it was one o'clock before they came in sight of Firefly Lake, nestling so cozily among the hills.
"It will take at least an hour and a half to get down to the lake and up to camp," said Snap. "Shall we go on or stop for dinner?"
"I am as hungry as two bears," said Whopper. "Let us rest up a bit and get something to eat."
The others were willing, and soon a fire was blazing and over this they broiled one of the wild ducks. The meal and the rest occupied an hour and a half, but they all felt it was time well spent.
Their hearts beat rapidly as they walked down the hill to the edge of the lake. They had to pass a bend and then came in sight of the camp.
"The flag is down!" cried Giant, in some disappointment.
"I reckon the blizzard was too much for it," answered Snap. "But let that go, so long as the shelter itself is all right."
They almost broke into a run on the last quarter mile, so eager were they to see the condition of things. At last they caught sight of Birch Tree Inn. It looked to be exactly as they had left it.
"Thank fortune for that," began Shep, when Whopper uttered a cry.
"I really believe the doorway is open!"
The barrier to the doorway was certainly gone, and with hearts that fairly thumped in their breasts they ran for the shelter, to learn what this meant. All was dark inside and very cold, and with trembling fingers Snap struck a match and looked around for the acetylene bicycle lamp.
"It's gone!" he cried.
"And most of our things are gone too!" gasped Shep.
Then the match went out and they had to light another. A scrap of paper was found and some dry sticks, and they kindled a blaze, heaping up the fire so as to get as much light as possible.
"One sled is gone!"
"So are all the cooking utensils!"
"And the extra clothing!"
"And the grub!" wailed Whopper. "Not a bit of coffee, chocolate, sugar, or anything left!"
"Boys, this is awful!" wailed Giant. "Who could have done it?"
"Maybe the Ham Spink crowd."
"Or the Felps crowd."
"Or that tramp who made trouble for us before," came from Snap.
Then they made a more careful inspection—to find their skates also missing and—most precious of all—all the extra matches and extra ammunition.
"This is the worst blow of all," said the leader of the club, referring to the matches and the ammunition. "We can't stay here without ammunition and the wherewith to make a fire when we want it."
"What's to do?" asked Giant and Whopper, in a breath.
"Either catch the fellow who has stolen our things, or go home."