"Why cannot we take possession of these two cabins at once?" suggested Asa Lemm. "The island belongs to us, and we have a perfect right to do so."

"Of course we can take possession," answered Slogwell Brown.

"Remember--possession is nine points of the law," he added, in a low tone of voice.

"We'll show old Stevenson where he belongs," growled Slugger.

"Yes, and we'll show these Rover boys where they belong, too," put in Nappy, his eyes snapping viciously.

Without further ado, the whole party started toward the cabin which was Barney Stevenson's home. Evidently the men had been there before, and knew that this was the right building of the two.

"Oh, Jack! are you going to let them take possession?" questioned Fred, in a low voice.

"What do you fellows think we ought to do?" queried the oldest Rover boy quickly.

"I think we ought to make them keep out until Uncle Barney gets back,"

answered Randy.

"That's my idea, too," added his twin.

"They may have the right to this island, but I'd make them fight it out with Mr. Stevenson," was Fred's comment.

"That's just the way I look at it, too," answered Jack. "Come on, Randy; we'll guard that cabin while Andy and Fred can remain here to guard this place."

"Would you dare to shoot at them?" questioned Fred anxiously.

"I don't think there will be any necessity for shooting, Fred. I think if we merely show we mean business they will keep their distance."

The boys exchanged a few more words, and then Jack and Randy set off on a run for the cabin occupied by Uncle Barney. They outdistanced the visitors, and soon placed themselves in the doorway.

"Now, you keep back!" cried Jack warningly. "Don't come near this place until Mr. Stevenson returns!"

"Ha! do you dare to threaten me?" burst out Slogwell Brown in amazement.

"You heard what I said."

"Every one of you keep away from here," put in Randy.

"See here, Rover!" commenced Asa Lemm. "This is outrageous! We own this island, and we intend to take possession."

"Whether you own it or not, you are not going to take possession of anything until after Mr. Stevenson gets here," answered Jack, as calmly as he could. "I don't know anything about your claim. As far as I do know, Mr. Stevenson is the owner of this place. He left us in charge when he went away, and we are going to remain in charge until he gets back."

"Huh! do you think we're going to stay out in this cold?" grumbled Slugger.

"I don't care what you do," answered Jack. "You can't come into either of these cabins--and that's final!"

"We'll see about that!" stormed Nappy, and advanced several steps.

"Get back there," ordered Jack sternly, and made a movement as if to raise his rifle.

"Stop! Stop! Don't shoot!" yelled Asa Lemm, in sudden fright. "Keep back, boys, or they'll certainly shoot at us!" and he began to retreat.

"Do you dare to threaten us?" questioned Slogwell Brown and the tone of his voice showed his uneasiness. A glance over his shoulder had shown him the other two boys at the doorway of the second cabin, and also armed.

"I'm telling you to keep away from here--that's all," answered Jack.

"You can come back when Mr. Stevenson returns."

"I--I think maybe it would be better for us to retire," stammered Professor Lemm. "We--er--don't want to run the risk of being shot. Those boys are very hot-headed, and there is no telling what they might do if we exasperated them."

"I'm not going to give in to a bunch of school boys!" stormed Slogwell Brown, who, in his manner, was every bit as much of a bully as his son.

"But if they should shoot at us----"

"I don't think they've got the nerve to do it. They are only putting up a big bluff."

"Don't you be too sure about that," put in Nappy, who was just as much scared as was the professor. "Those Rover boys are game to do almost anything when they are aroused."

"We've got to remember one thing," came from Slugger. "There are four of them, and each of 'em has got a gun."

"I wish I had brought a gun along myself," said his crony.

"We should have armed ourselves," grumbled Slogwell Brown. "It was a mistake to come over to this island without so much as a pistol. If I only had some sort of a weapon, I'd show those boys a thing or two."

"Maybe we can get into the cabin by a back way," suggested Nappy.

"Say, that's an idea!" cried his crony. "And if we can do that, maybe there's a gun or a pistol inside that we can use."

"You boys can take a walk around to the rear if you want to," answered Slugger's father. "I'll see if I can't bluff those fellows into letting us in at the front."

Slugger and Nappy had just started to move away toward the lake sh.o.r.e, intending to sneak behind some rocks and bushes, when they heard Fred give a loud shout from the entrance to the second cabin. Then Andy gave a long whistle.

"What's that for?" questioned Nappy quickly.

"See! they are waving their hands to somebody," announced Slugger. He turned to gaze out over the lake. "A man is coming."

"What do you bet it isn't old Stevenson?"

"It is! See, he's coming as fast as he can!"

"Yes, and he has his gun with him," announced Asa Lemm somewhat feebly.

Attracted by the call from Fred and the loud whistle given by Andy, the old lumberman had noted that a number of visitors were standing in front of the two cabins at the upper end of Snowshoe Island. He was still a considerable distance out on the lake, but his rapid skate strokes soon brought him to the sh.o.r.e. Then, without waiting to unstrap his skates, he came forward through the snow, his shotgun ready for use.

"Well, I'm mighty glad he's got here," murmured Jack, and his cousins echoed the sentiment.

CHAPTER XXV