CHAPTER XXVI
THE TRAIL THROUGH THE SNOW
Snap and Shep followed the trail of the stolen sled to the end of Firefly Lake with ease. The track was clearly to be distinguished, and it pursued its course in almost a straight line.
"I hope we can follow it thus easily to the end," said the leader of the Gun Club. "I'd hate to lose it."
"Let us hurry as much as possible," returned the doctor's son. "We want to overtake the thief before night."
They did hurry, and at length came to the outlet of the lake. Before them was Rocky River, a hundred and more feet wide at this point and frozen over solidly.
"Hullo, he didn't go towards Fairview!" cried Snap, pointing to the track the sled had left. "He went the other way."
"He must have gone to Riverview, or else beyond," returned the doctor's son.
They passed the old icehouse where Kiddy Leech had met Ham Spink and his cronies and kept on steadily in the direction of Riverview. Then of a sudden Snap set up a shout.
"I see a man ahead—with a sled!"
"So do I! It must be the thief, Snap!"
"Perhaps, although I can't make out at this distance. I'll tell you what I'll do, Shep—put on the skates and skate on the clear ice. I'll soon catch him that way. You can follow on your snowshoes or take them off, if you'd rather."
Shep decided to run without the snowshoes and both lads took off the articles. Then Snap donned the skates and hurried off at his best rate of speed.
"If he won't stop—shoot at him!" called Shep after his chum.
"I certainly will!" responded Snap, who was worked up more than he cared to admit.
Snap had quite a stretch of clear ice, but further on was a long drift of snow over which he made but slow progress. But then came another clear stretch and he spun along, his skates skirring merrily at every sturdy stroke.
Snap was within a hundred yards of the man with the sled when the latter chanced to look around. At once the youth yelled at him.
"Stop, you thief! Stop!"
The man was startled and slackened his pace. Then, when he saw the youth raise his shotgun, he let up a cry of fear.
"Don't shoot! Please don't shoot!"
"Kiddy Leech!" ejaculated Snap, recognizing the tramp. "Stop, you rascal, or it will be the worse for you!"
To this the tramp did not reply. Instead, he ran to one side of the river, and plunged into some bushes. Beyond was a thick growth of trees, and he lost no time in hiding himself among these.
At first Snap was on the point of shooting, but he hesitated, as he was afraid he might kill the thief. Then it was too late to fire, and he dropped his gun on its strap. He took possession of the sled, turned it around and skated slowly toward where his chum was coming up on a decidedly lively run.
"Did you catch him, Snap?"
"No, but I know who it was—that tramp, Kiddy Leech."
"Is that so! Are all the things here?"
"I don't know."
"Where did he go?"
"Ran for that woods like a frightened deer. I would have fired, only I was afraid of killing him."
"Do you think we ought to go after him? We might be able to trail him in the snow."
"We might try it. He was pretty well scared when he saw me with my shotgun."
Leaving the sled by the river side, both young hunters made their way through the bushes and into the forest. For a short distance they followed the trail with ease. But then they reached a pond containing some clear ice and here the footprints were lost.
"Might as well give it up," said Shep, looking around. "It is growing dark and he will know enough to keep hidden. Besides, if we corner him he may play some trick—tumble a rock on us, or something like that."
Slowly the two young hunters retraced their way to the river. They were now so tired they could scarcely drag one foot after the other. The excitement over, reaction set in.
"I don't think I want to walk all the way to camp to-night," remarked
Shep. "It's too far."
"We'll put up somewhere over night," answered Snap.
They examined the things on the sled with interest and were glad to ascertain that nearly every article stolen was there. The few things missing were of scant importance.
"I'll wager that scamp intended to take the things somewhere and sell them," said Snap. "We were lucky to catch him as we did."
Having looked the load over, they repacked it with care and then looked around them, to find out their exact location.
"There is a farmer named Masterson, who lives just beyond this woods," said Snap. "My father sold him the lumber for his new barn. Perhaps he'll take us in for the night, if we offer to pay him."
"Well, we can try him anyway," answered the doctor's son.
They skated along the river until the field leading up to the farmhouse was reached. It was now quite dark. A dog came out to greet them, barking furiously.
"Hope he isn't of the biting kind," said Shep, drawing back.
"Down, Rover, down!" came in a man's voice, and a moment later Aaron Masterson appeared. He was a man of sixty, bent from age and hard work.
"Good evening, Mr. Masterson," said Snap. "I don't know if you remember me or not. I am Charley Dodge. My father sold you the lumber for your new barn."
"Oh, yes, I remember you," said the old farmer, with a smile. "You came to the raising, didn't you? Who is this with you?"
"My friend, Shep Reed. He is Dr. Reed's son."
"Oh, yes, I know the doctor, too. He attended my wife when she had pneumonia—brought her around, too. Well, lads, what brings you in such a snow?"
In a few words Snap and Shep explained the situation. When they mentioned the tramp Aaron Masterson shook his grizzled head and his fist vigorously.
"The pesky critters! I wish you had shot him! They're a terribul nuisance, tramps is. One day my wife give two on 'em a dinner an' they up afterwards an' stole my new sickle an' whetstone. Tramps ought all to be hung. Come in the house."
"Can you keep us until to-morrow morning?"
"I think so—I'll have to ask my wife first though."
Mrs. Masterson proved to be a motherly lady of fifty, and she readily consented to keep the boys and give them their supper and breakfast.
"You won't have to pay a cent," she declared. "I am glad to do Doctor Reed's son a favor, and your friend a favor too. The doctor is a wonderfully fine man."
"An' Mr. Dodge treated me right on that lumber fer the barn," put in
Aaron Masterson.
The boys were invited to sit down to a well filled table, and did so, after washing their hands in the kitchen at the sink. They had a real homecooked supper and enjoyed it immensely.
They were just finishing up when there came a loud knock on the dining room door of the farmhouse. Aaron Masterson answered it.
"What's wanted?" he asked, of a man who stood on the porch.
"Please, sir, I am a poor man looking for work. Would you mind giving me a bit to eat?" came from somebody outside.
"It's Kiddy Leech!" whispered Snap. "Now, what do you think of that?"