Dick grinned. "It kind of takes the poetry out of the scene," he suggested.
"Exactly. Hello—"
"Looks like smoke signals across the way. Wonder if anything's up?"
The three boys stared intently toward the cabin, a mere brownish spot against the background of trees.
Sure enough. A cloud of grayish smoke, in a rather solid mass, rose lazily in the air, light against the firs and dark as it emerged into the expanse of sky above.
"There goes another!" exclaimed Tom, in some excitement.
"Sure as you live, it's a signal," put in Dick, as a third slowly appeared. "Guess we'll have to skip over. Something may have happened."
"Certainly we will," grumbled Dave. "And just as I thought of getting a nice rest by the fire. Hello—gun signals, too," he added, as a faint report came from the distance.
"Hurry up, fellows! Strap on your skates!" cried Dick, excitedly. "We must see about this. Somebody hurt, do you think?"
"It isn't far across, and we'll soon know," replied Dave.