"We'd best be going soon," continued Yardsley, "or we'll find that the varmints have made a meal of it."
When Yardsley and the two Ramblers started off after the deer, the others began to make their way toward the lake.
As the afternoon advanced, the clouds which still dotted the sky began to disappear, and before dark the last whitish patch had vanished behind a hill. Finally a glimmering light began to show in the northeast, and the moon rose against a steel blue sky sprinkled with stars.
Sam Randall and Dick Travers returned, and announced the success of their trip.
The rigor of a keen, cutting air was greatly lessened by a roaring fire, and the boys managed to make themselves comfortable.
Bob Somers and Hackett, however, thoroughly worn out, concluded to retire early, and while the figures of Sladder, Musgrove and Bowser were yet patches of dark against a snowy background, each was ready for his bed of fir brush.
CHAPTER XXIV
A QUARREL
"Here comes Sladder, Musgrove and the mighty Bowser," laughed Bob, when supper was finished next evening.