Fortune favored the ice fishermen, for both captives were saved, and they proved to be even larger than the first one taken.
So the fun went on. At times it slackened more or less, only to begin again with new momentum. The pile of fish on the ice, rapidly freezing, once they were exposed to the air, increased until at noon they had all they could think of carrying home.
“The rest of the day we’ll take things easy, and lay in a stock for Abe here,” suggested Tom; for the guide had told them he meant to cure as many of the fish as he could secure, since later on in the winter they would be much more difficult to catch, and it would be a long time until April came with its break-up of the ice.
The boys certainly enjoyed every minute of their stay at the lake. Jack was wise enough to know that they had better start for camp about three o’clock. It might not be quite so easy going back, as they would be tired, and the wind was against them.
They had skated for over half an hour, with their heavy packs on their backs, when again Tom called to his comrade to listen.
“And believe me it wasn’t a fox that time, Jack!” he declared, “but, as sure as you live, it sounded like somebody calling weakly for help!”