CHAPTER XVIII

FISHING THROUGH THE ICE

With nothing of importance to do and n.o.body to awaken them, the Rover boys and their chums slept late the next morning. Gif was the first to get up, and, seeing that the others were still asleep, he made as little noise as possible when he went out into the living-room to stir up the smouldering fire and place upon it a couple of extra logs.

"h.e.l.lo, Gif! Up already?" came from Spouter, when the other cadet came back to finish his dressing. "What sort of a day is it?"

"Clear as crystal, Spouter. It couldn't be better."

"Then perhaps we'll get a chance to go out hunting."

"Perhaps." Gif looked doubtful for a moment. "I don't know that I care to leave this place until Glutts and Werner have gone."

"I don't blame you, Gif. It would be just like those mean chaps to try to do some damage before they left. They are not the kind to appreciate in the least what we have done for them."

"Hardly--after the way they kicked up about washing a few dishes. It made me sick."

Gif and Spouter began preparations for breakfast, and while they were at this the four Rovers appeared, one after another. The door to the room turned over to Glutts and Werner remained closed.

"Those fellows are certainly putting in some sleep," was Jack's comment.

"Shall I wake 'em up?" questioned Fred quickly.

"No. Let them take their own time," answered Gif. "With such fine weather they ought to have no trouble in getting away, and there is no use of another row before they start."

The lads prepared a generous breakfast of pancakes and some sausage meat that had been brought along from Timminsport, washed down with a copious supply of hot coffee. As they ate they cast sundry glances at the closed bedroom door, but saw no sign of Glutts or Werner.

"Gee! they must be sleeping like rocks," was Andy's comment.

"You'd think the smell of the pancakes and sausage would wake 'em up on such a cold morning as this," added his twin. "My! but it's good!"

"Perhaps they thought they wouldn't bother us about breakfast and take it out in sleep instead," suggested Fred.

"Say, did any of you fellows get up during the night to get something to eat--crackers or cheese, or anything like that?" questioned Gif quickly.

All of the others shook their heads.

"What makes you ask that question, Gif?" remarked Jack.

"Why, I saw a lot of crumbs scattered over the kitchen table and on the floor."

"Maybe Glutts and Werner got up to get something--" began Fred, and then a sudden idea came into his mind and he gave a start. "Gee! what would you say if they were gone?"

"Gone!" echoed the others.

"Maybe they're not in that room at all!" added Jack.

"I'll soon find out!" answered Gif, and, leaving the breakfast table, he went over and tried the bedroom door. It was unlocked, and he opened it and went inside.

"They're gone, all right enough," he called out, and immediately the others followed him into the room. Here they found the beds mussed up and empty. All of the things belonging to Glutts and Werner were gone and the single window of the room was wide open.

"That's a fine way to leave, I must say," grumbled Gif.

"Yes, and to leave this window wide open so the room can get as cold as a barn!" added Spouter, as he pulled down the sash. "Some mean fellows, believe me!"

"Let's see if the horse and sleigh are gone too!" cried Randy.

In a few minutes he and Fred were ready to go out, and they lost no time in hurrying down to the barn and the shed. Sure enough, the horse and sleigh were gone, and the barn door had been left wide open.

"I wonder when they went," remarked Fred.

"Most likely as soon as it was daylight. They probably had this all fixed last night. That's why they went to bed early."

"Well, it doesn't hurt my feelings to have them missing."

"I'd like to know if they took any of our things with them."

The two Rovers returned to the Lodge, and there told of what they had discovered. A search around the Lodge was immediately inst.i.tuted, the boys looking over their clothing and firearms and then their stores and the regular belongings of the bungalow.

"As far as I can make out, there is only one flannel blanket from the bed missing," said Gif. "I suppose they took that along to keep warm on the ride. They didn't have but one small robe in the sleigh."

"I don't know about these stores," announced Spouter, who had been going over them carefully. "It seems to me we had more canned stuff than this--some green corn and asparagus, and also some canned salmon and sardines."

"I wouldn't put it past 'em to take anything they thought they needed,"

declared Fred. "They are just that sort, and everybody here knows it."

"All I can say is, 'Good riddance to bad rubbish,'" said Randy.

"And may we fail to see 'em again while we're in this vicinity," added his twin.

"My! but it's a real relief to have them gone," announced Jack. "Now we can do as we please and have the best times ever," and his face showed his pleasure.

Everybody felt glad to think the two bullies were gone, and soon they were chatting gayly. Then, after the breakfast dishes had been put away, all went outside and there indulged in a s...o...b..ll fight which lasted the best part of the morning.

After such a glorious time in the open, all the cadets ought to have felt in the best of spirits, but it was observed by Jack at dinner time that Fred and the twins looked rather preoccupied. They were whispering together, and presently Randy spoke.

"I and Andy and Fred have been thinking that perhaps it would be best for us to let you other fellows know how matters stand," said he. "Maybe you won't approve of what we did. Just the same, we think Glutts and Werner deserve it." And thereupon he and the others related what had been done the evening before down at the shed. All of the others had to grin at the recital, yet Jack and Gif shook their heads.

"I don't blame you," said the oldest Rover boy. "Just the same, it may lead to more trouble."

"If they find out that you did it, they'll probably come here and try to pay us back," was Gif's comment.

"Let them come," announced Spouter. "I guess we can hold our own against them. I am glad we did something for them to remember us by, especially if they walked off with some of our stuff."

That afternoon the boys went hunting again, but on account of the heavy fall of snow did not go any great distance. They managed, however, to get two more rabbits, and also two squirrels, and two quail.