"Looks to me as if we were going to be stumped, Jack."

"I agree, Andy. It doesn't look as if there were any mink in this neighborhood," answered the oldest Rover boy.

"Don't give up yet," pleaded Fred, who sat on a fallen tree, resting.

"It's barely noon yet," announced Andy, glancing at his watch. "We've half a day before us."

The boys had spent the entire time since leaving their cabin in skating along the sh.o.r.e of the island and making their way along the tiny, frozen-up watercourse, where they had hoped to discover at least one brook mink. But the only game to come into sight had been a squirrel, and they had not shot at this, fearing to disturb the other game, were it in that vicinity.

"Let's have lunch before we continue hunting," suggested Andy. "This is as good a spot as any to rest in."

The others were willing, and, finding a little cleared s.p.a.ce, they built a tiny campfire and proceeded to make themselves at home. They pa.s.sed a full hour over the mid-day meal, for the constant skating and tramping through the woods and climbing over the rocks was very tiring.

"It won't be long before our vacation will be at an end," observed Fred.

"Only a few days more, and we'll have to get into the grind again at Colby Hall."

"Don't dare to mention lessons yet, Fred!" cried Andy. "Time enough for that when the school bell rings."

"I was hoping Mr. Stevenson would get up here before we left," said Jack. "I want to see how he and old Uncle Barney get along."

"Maybe he's staying away on purpose, so that he'll have a chance to see the old man alone," suggested Randy.

The middle of the afternoon found the four young hunters near the end of the frozen-up watercourse, at a point where it ran in summer over some rough rocks into the lake below. Here the ground was very irregular, and once Fred slipped into a hollow, giving his left ankle a bad twist.

"Ouch!" he cried, and made a wry face.

"Much hurt?" asked the others quickly.

"I--I don't think so," answered the youngest Rover slowly. He pulled himself up and took a step or two. "I guess it is all right; but it was a nasty tumble, just the same."

"We've got to be careful. It won't do for any of us to sprain an ankle or break a leg," cautioned Jack.

They had gone only a short distance further when Randy suddenly put up his hand.

"I saw something flit through the snow near yonder rocks," he whispered, pointing.

"I see it!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jack, and with these words he took hasty aim, and fired. Then his cousins saw another movement in the snow, between some nearby rocks, and they, too, discharged their weapons.

There was a commotion both in the direction in which Jack had fired, and also down between the nearer rocks, and, rushing up, the four young hunters beheld two minks, whirling about in the snow, each badly wounded.

"Mink, boys! Think of it!"

"Don't let them get away!"

These cries mingled with several more rapid reports, as one lad after another fired a second charge. This time their aims were better, and in a moment each of the minks lay stretched out on the rocks, dead.

"I think there was a third one," observed Randy, "but he must have got away."

"Well, we've got two, anyway," answered Jack with some pride. "What beautiful creatures they are!"

Each of the minks was over a foot in length, not counting the bushy tail. They were of a soft brown shade, with a ridge of black on the back and patches of white below. Each was quite plump, and gave forth a peculiar strong odor.

The boys were greatly delighted, and viewed the game with much satisfaction. They placed the minks over their shoulders, and then continued the hunt, presently stirring up half a dozen rabbits.

"I guess we had better be starting for the cabin," announced Jack presently.

"How about going to that other cabin at the south end of the island?"

queried Fred.

"Oh, let's give that up!" cried Randy. "I feel like getting back to where we have all our things."

The others were inclined to do this, and, somewhat against his will, Fred agreed to return to the north end of Snowshoe Island. Not without some difficulty, they made their way back to the lake sh.o.r.e, and there put on their skates once again and started.

The young hunters had expected to see Uncle Barney awaiting them on their return, and they were a bit surprised when the old lumberman did not show himself.

"He must be putting in a full day sizing up that lumber he spoke about,"

observed Jack, as he gazed at his watch. "It's nearly six o'clock."

"He can't see much in this darkness," observed Randy.

The boys entered their cabin, and after resting a bit proceeded to cook supper. They expected every moment to hear a shout from Uncle Barney, but none came, and at last they sat down to the meal alone.

"I don't like this much," was Jack's comment, when another hour had pa.s.sed, and the old lumberman had failed to show himself. "If he was going to stay away like this he should have left some word."

"Let's take a look around his cabin," suggested Fred.

This was done, but it shed no light on the unusual occurrence. The boys sat down and tried to amuse themselves as best they could, but, as another hour went by, their anxiety increased.

"Something is wrong, I feel certain," announced Jack at last.

"Maybe while he was out in the woods he fell down over some rocks,"

suggested Andy.

"He's a pretty old man to be climbing around in dangerous places," added his twin.

When the time came to go to bed, none of the boys felt like retiring. A lantern was lit and hung up on a flagpole which stood between the two cabins. This was a signal which had been agreed upon when the Rovers had first come to Snowshoe Island.

"There! Now if he can see the light he'll be able to locate himself,"

said Fred.

The boys took a walk around by the boat landing, and also to the edge of the woods back of the cabin, but all to no purpose. Then they finally retired to their own shelter.

"We might as well go to bed," suggested Handy. "It won't do any good for all of us to stay up. If you say so, we might take turns in staying on guard, in case we should hear a call for help, or anything like that."

This was considered good advice, and each youth took two hours at staying awake while the others slept; and thus the night pa.s.sed.

With the first streak of daylight, the boys prepared a hasty breakfast, and then went outside to view the situation. They soon found the tracks of the old lumberman's snowshoes, leading into the woods, and presently saw two other tracks close behind them.