Fortunately for the boys, they knew how to cut up a deer to advantage and it did not take them long to trim away a portion of the pelt and get out the steak they wanted. Then they fixed up a rude fork on which to cook the meat, and soon the appetizing odor of broiled venison filled the hollow.
"This is much better than nothing but a cold lunch," said Whopper, as he divided the steak. "Fingers were made before knives and forks, and as nobody is looking on, we can eat as suits us."
"Let us broil another steak, before the fire gets low," suggested the doctor's son. "If it goes out on us we won't want to be without something to eat?"
"That fire isn't going out—not if I know it. Why, it would be awful to be left without a light, and without warmth. We might freeze to death—if it got much colder!"
Another and larger steak was well cooked, and then the boys set to work to gather a generous supply of firewood, breaking and cutting it as best they could. This was hard work, but it kept them warm, and neither complained.
"I suppose Snap and Giant are worrying about our not getting back," said Whopper. "I hope they don't come out to look for us."
After they had cut all the wood they wanted, they sat down again by the fire. Both boys were very tired, yet the strangeness of their situation kept them awake for several hours. They watched the snow, as it came down as thickly as ever, and listened to the shrieking of the wind as it tore through the trees on the top of the cliff.
"Do you think more of the trees will come down?" questioned Whopper.
"I am sure I don't know," was Shep's reply.
At last both boys began to blink and stretch themselves, and then
Whopper said they had better go to sleep.