"How is that?" sang out Whopper, as he planted a snowball directly in
Snap's ear.
"And how's that?" returned Snap quickly, and sent a chunk of soft snow down Frank's collar.
"Wuow!" spluttered Whopper. "Hi! that isn't fair! Oh, my poor backbone!"
"Here you are, Giant!" called out Shep, and hit the little lad in the back. "Sorry, but it can't be helped. I—Oh, my!" and Shep bent double as a snowball thrown by Giant with much force took him directly in the stomach.
"Just to remember me by!" sang out Giant. "Here's another," and the ball struck Shep in the elbow. "Small favors thankfully received and big ones granted in return. There you are!" And still another snowball landed on Shep's neck.
Five other boys had come up, and now the contestants were lined up on both sides of the street not far from a corner, where there was a turn running down to the depot. As the snowballing went on a distant locomotive whistle sounded out and the afternoon train from the East rolled into the station. Several passengers alighted and among the number was Andrew Felps, of the Felps Lumber Company, the man who had caused the boy hunters so much trouble the summer previous.
Mr. Andrew Felps was in a bad humor. He had gone to the city on business and matters had not turned out as he had expected. Now he had gotten back, dressed in his best, and wearing a new silk hat, and he had no umbrella with which to protect himself from the snow-storm. More than this, his coachman, who generally met him when he came in on the train, was not in sight.
"Bah! I'll have to walk I suppose," muttered the saw mill owner, as he looked around for a carriage and found none. "Just the time you want a rig you can't find one. I'll discharge Johnson as soon as I reach home."
With his coat buttoned up around his neck, and his head bent low to escape the scudding snow, Andrew Felps hurried away from the depot and up to the main street of Fairview. Then he made another turn, presently reaching the spot where our heroes and the other lads were having their sport.
"Hi! here comes old Felps!" cried Giant. "We ought to give him something to remember us by!"