“Yes, I am, full-size!” Tim retorted, reaching for his ax. “I’m going out and gather worms for the rest of you lazy birds!”
“Fine!” Kent approved. “Hurry up and get a fire going, so that I can get up!”
“Anyone who isn’t up by the time I come back with wood will get a snow rub,” promised the Ford twin.
All of the wood had been used up on the previous night, and Tim was compelled to go out and hunt for a fresh supply. Accordingly he stepped out onto the hard-packed snow before the cabin, his eyes quickly taking in the lake and the surrounding country. For a moment he paused, taking in the beauty of it all, unconsciously drawing a deep breath of satisfaction.
The sun was rising over the tops of the spruce and hemlocks and striking fire on the sheet of ice. Icicles gleamed from the roof slope of the big hunting lodge. At the edge of the timber a rabbit hopped out into the clearing, looked around with a jerk of his brown head, and then streaked off into the undergrowth.
“By ginger, it’s a dandy morning. And those sleepyheads in there!”
Tim knew that it was warm and comfortable in the sleeping bags, but the beauty of the new morning was worth looking at. He started off toward the timber to get his supply of wood, and then noticed a small shack close to the cabin. Investigating this, he was delighted to find a small stack of firewood.
“Good luck! This will save me the trouble of cutting a supply right now.”
He slipped the camping ax through his belt and carried a heaping armful of wood into the cabin. By this time all of the boys were awake. Kent was dressing, and Mac and Barry still enjoyed the comfort of the bags.
“I’m glad to see that you fellows have decided to get up at last,” Tim greeted them.