“We want to be as saving as possible with our stores,” observed Harry, as he sat, sucking the meat from a rabbit leg. “We may get snowed in so that we can’t get out to shoot a thing.”
“The first thing to do will be to lay in a supply of rabbits and squirrels,” returned Jack. “Then, if we get nothing better, we won’t starve, no matter what happens.”
“That’s a good idea!” cried Andy. “Rabbit meat is better than nothing, even if you have it three times a day.”
The meal finished, the things were quickly put away once more, and again the onward march was resumed.
The character of the country now changed somewhat. The hills became higher and harder to climb, and the undergrowth more rugged. More than once they had to turn back and seek another path because they could not get through without carrying the sled and its load. Once they came to a deep ravine, all of ten feet wide, with no crossing place in sight.
“Stumped!” cried Boxy. “Now what’s to be done?”
“Let’s walk along this side for a few hundred feet,” suggested Harry. “It may grow narrower further up.”
“I’ll stay here with the sled until you find out,” replied Jack, who had just taken hold. “It’s no use to pull it along, and then have to drag it back. If you find a place, yell out, and I’ll come.”
Harry and Boxy went on, accompanied by Pickles. It was no easy work to follow the edge of the ravine, for in several places the ice and snow were treacherous, and ready to let them slide down should they venture too close.
At last they reached a spot where the opening was scarcely five feet wide.