The night was far from being as cold as other nights had been, and they easily made themselves comfortable among the trees close by the lodge, propping up the sleds and covering them with branches and bushes and chunks of snow. Nothing came to disturb them, and all slept soundly until sunrise.
Immediately after breakfast the ruins were raked over as the old hunter had advised, and they found several articles of more or less value. But everything else had been burned up clean and clear.
“And now for new quarters,” said Joe. “I have an idea. Why not camp out near Needle Rock? We can find a good spot among the rocks, and that will give us a chance to look for that pocketbook during our off hours.”
“I’m willing,” answered Fred.
So were the others, and soon preparations were made for their departure. Inside of an hour they were off.
“Good-by to Snow Lodge!” cried Harry. “Perhaps we’ll never see this spot again.”
“We can build a new shelter,” said Joe. “It needn’t be so big, but I’m sure we can make it just as comfortable.”
And then they moved on, never dreaming of the surprises that were in store for them.
CHAPTER XIX
A GATHERING OF YOUNG HUNTERS.
Having the two sleds with them, they did not tramp through the woods, but took to the lake, where the wind had swept the ice comparatively free from snow.