“I would just as lief!” cried Boxy. “This is a tour, you know. Let us go up the lake a few miles.”
The matter was talked over, and it was decided as Boxy wished. Harry left his wildcat pelt behind.
Long before noon they were on the way, leaving the hut and the stone oven standing, as well as the snowhouse.
“Now for several days of fresh adventures, and then for home!” cried Harry. “Boys, I do not think we can complain of lack of lively times since we have been away.”
“No,” returned Jack. “Sometimes the times have been a bit too lively. However, we are all safe and well, so we have no cause to complain.”
On and on over the frozen lake they went until fully four miles had been covered. They then came to a large cove, beyond which was a most attractive opening among a cluster of giant oaks and walnuts.
“How will that do?” asked Andy, and they decided on the spot that it would answer very well.
A sheltered nook between three great trees was soon selected for a temporary camp, and Pickles at once set to work to build a fire and put the pot on to boil.
“Kase it always smells moah like home when de meat’s cookin’,” he said, with a full show of his ivories.
Before starting to build a hut or find a shelter under the rocks back of the cluster of trees, the members of the Zero Club decided to make a short trip around the place.