"But how about the bear's skin?" asked Bob, eagerly. "I'd give anything to take it home with me."
"Make yer mind easy on that score, cap'n. I'll tend ter the hull thing fur yer to-morrer. An' a bit of bear meat won't go bad, either. We'll jest drag him back where he come from, block up the hole, an' yours truly will fix the rest."
In a short time, the party came in sight of a lake. The opposite shore, fringed with a dark line of evergreens, became almost lost in a veil of bluish haze which enveloped the distance, while against the sky rose a line of low snow-clad hills.
"That there we call Goose Lake," announced Yardsley, "an' it's a good name, too, fur durin' the fall yer never seen so many of them birds in yer life as comes 'round."
"Many here now?" asked Hackett, eagerly.
The trapper shook his head. "Yer kin see 'em, but they ain't plentiful."
The lake was soon crossed, and on reaching the opposite shore they found themselves in a pine forest, dark, sombre and silent. In about twenty minutes the trapper held out his hand as a signal to halt.
"We're right by the shore," he whispered, "an' the geese is somewhere near."
Silently, the group spread out, each one heading for the lake, which could be seen between the trees.
To the eager and expectant hunters, it seemed an age before they reached the edge of the woods. Again Yardsley held up his hand.