After that came another spell of silence and then Whopper gave a yank on his line. Up came a good sized fish, but as it fell on the ice it broke loose from the hook and flopped back into the water with a splash that covered Whopper with the icy drops.
"Oh, hang the luck!" gasped Whopper. "He got away and gave me a shower bath in the bargain."
"Wish I could get a maskalonge," said Giant. "Do you remember the big one I caught last summer?"
"Indeed I do," answered Whopper. "And I remember how the fish pulled you overboard and nearly drowned you."
They continued to fish and presently Whopper got another bite and brought up a good-sized pickerel, of a variety that is known to many as a lake trout. Then both boys got a second and a third bite, and inside of an hour had a fair mess of fish to their credit.
In the meantime Snap and Shep remained near the shelter, fixing up a number of things. Shep made a fresh batch of bread dough and also prepared a pot of beans and baked a plain cake. He likewise tried his hand at an apple pie, but the crust was not right, and later on, when the pie was tested, Whopper said the "lid" might do for a shingle but not for eating. The cake, however, turned out well, and all of the young hunters praised it.
As Snap and Shep moved around, in and out of the shelter, Kiddy Leech watched them closely, although without letting them see it. The tramp had on his ragged overcoat and, when he got the chance, he put a number of things into the pockets on the sly.
Suddenly from the lake there came a loud shouting, and Snap and Shep ran out to see what was the matter.
"Maybe Giant and Whopper are in trouble," said the doctor's son.
They ran out on the ice and then around the bend, to find those who had been fishing running toward them.