The Camp in the Snow

d at midnight. The increased cold wakened Brick, and while he was

or a moment. Then he tremblingly lit

d see nothing. Twice they heard the dismal sound. It was certainly

ppose it is?" w

Jerry, "or Indian Dev

ed Hamp. "It's goin

arned Jerry. "I'll give the

, though the blood-curdling wail ech

ark once," whispered Brick. "It

gain. The boys peered anxiously at th

imed Hamp. "There's nothing left of

," declared Jerry. "Come on, yo

atamount jump at

rn," assured Jerry. "All wil

They timidly advanced to the fireplace

ought at bedtime?" asked

mitted Hamp. "I was too sleep

now," said Jerry, grimly.

boys expected nothing less than to

clared Hamp. "Give me the lantern, and I'll g

ndfall under the roots of that dead pine tree. I

uns and the lantern. They crossed th

, and stooped over the dying embers of the fire, trying vainly to fan them into a blaze. As he rose to his feet he heard a crackling noise, a

lost his wits. With a yell he turned and dashed a

the top of his voice, and expecti

He saw the gleam of the lantern go by, and then a rifle cracked sharp

ount?" he panted.

. The creature bolted into the forest when it sa

as a goner," d

le, and he trem

od on his back, and the fir

inutes, and then a wailing cry from

the boys went back to their

. The sun was behind murky gray clouds, and the air was bitterly cold. The s

in the vicinity decided the bo

and fried potatoes, they p

bays and indentations of the lake's crooked shore. At no

Jerry when they were on the march again. "It's a good thing t

catamount," replied Brick. "I suppose the

on't often trouble hunters. This fellow w

w men for days and weeks in

ed on for half an hour. Then Brick suddenly gave a sharp cry,

d. "It was a big, yellowish-gray animal, and

ked Hamp,

d su

le out of the forest, and crouched by the edge of the ice. It wailed in a mournful tone, a

. We'll try to get within easy shooting dista

with loaded rifles. But before they had taken a dozen st

not going to give us any advantage. He'll stick to us like

pause ended

Brick. "This knocks all the fun in the h

What do you say to cutting straight across the lake, and making our camp on the othe

west toward the faintly visible forest on the further

a dog trot. The sleds trailed easily behind the

efore the young voyagers. They were not half a mile away. They could

me, Brick?"

just half-p

other hour. By that time we'll likely str

thin twenty yards of the shore. Then they t

it of rocky and timbered lan

a good place behin

e shall," J

as hungry as a bear. I haven't had

hort distance back in the forest. The sound came rapidly nearer

and some animal is chasing it. The wind

th widely-branching antlers. He bounded down the slopin

h foam and perspiration. Both animals swept out on the

still. The others hurriedly grabbed their rifles from th

lads. He snorted with terror, and tried v

o excited to be cautious. He pulled

lank, inflicting a painful wound. The huge animal's terror instantly

wled headlong on the ice. He was right in front of the enraged buck. I

nd passion, veered with a shrill yelp. He leaped s