When he had finished, both Sladder and Musgrove seemed to be greatly impressed.
All the members of the Rambler Club strapped on their snow-shoes, and at the last moment Hackett and Nat Wingate decided to accompany them.
Starting in a northwesterly direction, they began ascending the thickly timbered hill back of the huts. Down on the other side and over another ridge they went, until at length a third elevation rose above them.
"Must have gone a half mile already," said Hackett.
"We may see something from the top of this hill," replied Bob, "unless our reading of the thing was all wrong."
When, after another hard climb, the summit was reached, all looked eagerly around.
Below stretched a valley, hills enclosing it on three sides.
"Well, what did I tell you?" exclaimed Hackett, triumphantly, after an interval of silence. "If anybody can spot something, now's the time to speak up and earn a vote of thanks."
The silence continued.
"Joke number nineteen," went on Hackett, presently. "When it gets to be about two hundred and six, I hope you fellows will take a grand tumble. It's awful to see a crowd so easy."