Luckily, it was not extra cold, and the wind came in such a direction that the hut was greatly sheltered. So, although somewhat cold, the boys still managed to put in a fairly comfortable night, sleeping as they did, in their overcoats, with the fire just outside of the door.
At the first streak of dawn in the east, Harry was up, and he quickly aroused the others. Ten minutes later they were eating breakfast.
“We’ll have to take some provisions along for dinner,” said Jack.
“There is nothing else to take but deer meat,” grumbled Andy. “Those chaps took everything, even our squirrels and rabbits.”
“Well, we won’t starve on deer meat,” returned Harry, as cheerfully as he could; “but, nevertheless, we’ll have an account to settle with those fellows when we catch them.”
“Maybe they’ll defy us,” said Boxy. “Some tramps are mighty nasty.”
“What of that? We are all armed,” said Jack, and the look on his face told that he was willing to fight for his own every time.
Pickles’ haversack was soon packed with cooked deer meat, the fire was banked up for the day, and then off they sat in quest of their belongings.
The sun was just rising over the hills, and it promised to be a fair day, with but little wind. Through the brush and trees the ice and snow glittered like silver and pearls, making the prettiest of pictures.
The boys had their guns loaded, and before they came to where the trail moved down to the lake, Andy caught sight of a squirrel, and shot the pretty animal.