hile, with a little pensive sigh, as though he had already begun to repent having conceived that br

d up ahead of the other fellows. If you were home right now I reckon you'd just say that it was a

n the level, Elmer?" asked Lil

's a drift, and the eddies of wind have been piling it up all night long. You see the snow is as dry almo

you don't look out," complained George. "This be

hat George was thinking of the dismal outlook by which they were con

! it'll wind up before a great while. They all hav

one of the longest, t

fashion they would not find much time to worry. "I'm going to settle down pretty soon by the fire here, and figure things out again. This time we want to make a sure jo

se tips we received, you remember,

s he thought we considered ourselves some punkins because we wore khaki suits, and he was mean enough to want t

ave had the chance to know what scouts can do when storm-bound in a snow forest. Some time, when it's all away back in the past,

ed to sprout. If I had my way I'd condemn that rascal to spend a whole week in a snow camp, with only six matches a

s morning, George," remarked Lil Artha; "

g that, Lil Artha?" demand

his shoulders as he went

a while back, and how they often had to go on half rati

on," urge

ontinued, gravely, "and they have to draw lots to see who w

cent. Nobody is going to starve here in the woods where we can find some sort of meat to eat, even cro

y, "but only supposin' they did, and the choice fell on you, I'm wondering if ever afterwards the three

the other; "you might happen to be t

would be so silly as to pick out a bony scarecrow like me when they could settle on a nice p

f eatin' seems to jar on my nerves. It sets me to thinkin', and that e

eorge closer so that the other squirmed

e nothing will come to us, wi

"The fellow who generally gets there is the one who goes out and finds what he wants, and doesn

et! And when can we make

n, we'll clear out and take our chances of finding

rattled on, "what's to hinder me

arked; "only I'm afraid you won't f

reason?" asked Toby, who

m up in Canada; and they had to dig me out lots of times before I learned how to stand straight. If once you slip it's good-bye to you. Down your head goes,

f splendid snow-shoes Uncle Caleb had sent him, and made as if to

rs go after deer or moose on snow-shoes they always pick a time after a thaw, when a return of the cold has frozen the wet surface of the deep sn

er, do you know," Lil Artha vehemen

told him. "I know right now that I wish a splendid buck was doing some of that same floundering near us, and Elmer had a c

n more pleasant channels; "let's all get together and compare notes about direction. I said I had a plan, but

o get them deeply interested in the subject of locat

eping the fire burning. Even George so far forgot his troubles as to

s a little, and the latest plan was to head a point south of northwe

me a pleasant face in order to keep the courage of the others up, he understood the

e they were; and besides the scantiness of their provisions entailed the necessity

ery substance was showering steadily down, adding to the tremendous quantity that wa

might be coming down in lessened quantities, but no sooner did they begin to p

the day, and as yet they could not

he old saying, 'between eleven and two, it'll tell you what's it's going to do.' Needn't chuckle that way, George, b

t noon, and look as black as a pocket, only to clear handsomely about four or five, with the grandest rainbow in the west you ever saw? Those sayings are all

's always a fair chance of its breaking around noon; and let's hope it'll be kind enough to d

comes along, either," he was told

omfort we've g

olately, eying the other half suspiciously, as though

heer us up. I think that counts a lot. It not only warms you insi

ver allowed to drink tea or

let me have one cup every morning; and when I'm in camp I c'n drink all I want. There, look and tell me if you don'

itical observation; "of course I'm not a weather-sharp; and my prediction may not be worth a p

this was the first time Elmer had committed himself to say

e. A stiff wind had arisen that cut like a knife; they hoped this was blowing the gray clouds away, and that soon the cheery face o

s!" Elmer told them; and it seemed as though there were four times as many cooks as the supp

ow the poor Irish during famine times were accustomed to hanging a bit of bacon over the table, and as they ate th

are coming soon, boys, when we'll have plenty," and he managed to cast another of his wicked looks in the direction of George, which being seen by that worthy caused him to cu

to say, overhead the clouds were plainly showing ragged signs, a

and full of hope they easily found many things to pin their faith on. Youth is apt to be buoyant, and see only the present; George's hab

gn, and every old hunter knows it. Smoke hugs the ground when the air is heavy with moisture, and

yet to come,"

a, sniffing the air, which was charged ju

tear his mind away from contemplating his present. "Think how slick we'd go skimming along o

in't always just what they seem. Lots of times you think you're going to ha

hat thing happening to us," practical Lil Artha assured him, for h

s intention to add some brilliant remark to what he had already said in connection with snow-s

ld you see that?"

at least a hungry lynx about to spring into the camp, the others whirled ar

nt of their presence, as well as the smoke from the fire, in another direction. He had apparently just discovered them at the instant they all looked, for

zing the hopelessness of getting a shot he desisted