Later on the hunter got two fine rabbits, and oh! how the boys wished they were big enough to have guns!
"I'm coming up here every hunting season, as soon as I'm old enough to shoot!" cried Frank.
"So am I!" exclaimed Sammy and Bob.
As he did not shoot game to sell, and as he had enough for present needs, Mr. Jessup, as all good hunters do in such cases, ceased the use of his gun. With his rabbits and pheasants on his back he led the boys on the return trip. As they came to the old mansion, Sammy asked:
"Could we go in now, Mr. Jessup, and look around?"
"I guess so," he answered. "But don't stay too late. It gets dark early now, you know. I'll keep on to my cabin."
Eagerly the boys entered the old deserted house, Mr. Jessup letting them take his key. As he had said, they found several rooms fitted up with beds, and a few pieces of furniture. These were the apartments used by those of the hunting parties who could not find bunks in the cabin.
"Now let's begin at the top of the house, and work down," proposed Sammy, when they had looked about the lower floor. "Maybe we can find something of the mystery."
"Maybe—the dog—yes," laughed Bob.