"Right you are, little boy," grinned Hackett. "And don't forget that bear you're going to help me find."
Nat began to show signs of fatigue, and soon a halt was made.
"Maybe we had better not try to reach the lake to-night," said Bob.
"Oh, pshaw! I can stand it, Somers," returned Nat. "A few minutes' rest will fix me up all right."
Suddenly a shout from Hackett, who had gone on ahead, attracted their attention. He had disappeared around a bend, but now came skating back.
"The river's just ahead, fellows," he cried. "Anything the matter, Nat?"
"No, I feel first-rate," returned Nat, rising to his feet. "Fellows, I believe this trip will fix me up all right."
"Of course it will," said Hackett, enthusiastically. "Say—we ought to reach Lake Wolverine pretty soon, now."
"I hope so—I'm half frozen," put in Tom Clifton; "a big fire and some hot coffee—"
"Um—um!" interrupted Dave Brandon; "and a pan of nice bacon, and baked potatoes, eh?"