“I heard a scratching,” put in Harry, in a whisper.
“It’s some wild animal after food,” returned Jack, in an equally low tone of voice.
“What can it be?” questioned Andy.
They were silent after this, and soon the scratching could be heard quite plainly.
Then, before they could realize it, something sprang upon the top of the hut.
“The deer meat!” cried Harry. “It is all outside, hanging on the tree limb!”
“And so are the rest of the rabbits!” put in Jack. “We must go outside and shoot that creature, whatever it is!”
Jack caught up his gun, as did also Harry, and together they sallied forth in the howling snowstorm.
At first amid the swirling snow they could see nothing. Then Harry caught sight of an immense wildcat making off with the venison in its mouth.
He took hasty aim and fired. None of the shot reached its mark, and an instant later the wildcat was gone, before Jack could get any show at it.