"We can"t walk that distance in this snowstorm," said the latter decidedly.
"Not over those rough rocks, anyway," added Randy. "I feel as if my ankles were getting twisted out of shape."
"Do you know in what direction the Lodge is from here?" questioned Spouter.
"I do not, except that you have to be on the top of the cliff to get to it. We were evidently headed the right way, although we must have walked in a big semicircle since we left the river."
"I"m going to climb to the top of the cliff and have a look around,"
declared Jack. "Here, take these guns and the game."
It was no easy matter to mount to the top of the cliff which at this point was at least fifteen feet over their heads. But Jack finally made it, and was followed by Spouter and Gif.
Here, however, the view was no better than from below--the thickly falling snow hiding the landscape on every side. Night was coming on and it was growing colder, and the boys could not help but shiver.
"I guess the best thing we can do it to try to make ourselves comfortable for the night," remarked Jack.
"How can we make ourselves comfortable without anything to eat?"
questioned Spouter.
"We"ve got the game. We can start a fire and cook some of that."
"And besides, you must remember we have the things we bought at Henryville," said Gif.
The three rejoined the others, and the question of what to do was put to the younger Rovers. Fred and Andy declared they could not tramp much further, and at once agreed that it would be best to try to make themselves comfortable for the night.
"It looks as if there might be some kind of shelter under those fallen cedars," said Randy. "Hanging down from the top of the cliff, they form a sort of lean-to."
"I was thinking of that," said Jack. "Let us get under them and investigate."
"Beware of more wildcats," cautioned Andy.
"We"ll use my flashlight," said Gif.
This was done, he and several of the others investigated the spot under the fallen cedars with care. No trace of any wild animal, not even a rabbit or a squirrel, was found. Then the boys began to size up the situation, trying to determine how they could make themselves at home there for the night.
"First of all I think we had better build a fire," suggested Gif. "Then, after we have warmed up and rested a bit, we can prepare supper."
With so much wood at hand it was an easy matter to start a campfire.
This was placed at one side of the opening under the fallen cedars, the boys taking care that the flames should not reach the trees. With their hatchet they cut off some of the cedar boughs and scattered these over the ground for a flooring. The driest they placed to one side to use for bedding later.
Fortunately while at Henryville they had purchased a fair-sized box of cocoa. This box was of tin, and Jack suggested that they dump the cocoa out on a sheet of paper which he had in his pocket and then use the tin for a pot in which to boil water.
"It won"t make a very large cocoa pot, but it will be better than nothing, and we can fill it as many times as we please."
The boys had several collapsible drinking cups with them, and these they would take turns in using.
"I"m mighty glad we bought that cheese," remarked Spouter. "That will help out quite a little," for they carried a piece weighing almost two pounds.
Of the other things purchased at Henryville, only a box of fancy crackers could be used. There were two dozen all told, and these were divided by Randy, four crackers to each cadet.
"We"ll clean a couple of the rabbits and see what we can do about broiling them over the flames," said Gif. "Now you fellows can show what you can do," he added, with a grin. "It"s all well enough to work when you"ve got the tools to work with, but quite another story when you"ve got next to nothing."
Water was obtained by melting a quant.i.ty of the snow, and soon they had the first can of hot cocoa ready. In the meanwhile several of the lads were broiling the rabbits as best they could.
"I know how I"m going to heat the next can of water," declared Andy.
"I"m going to do as the Indians did--drop a clean, redhot stone into it." And this he did later on and got his boiling water in short order.
It was not a very satisfactory meal, but the lads had fun eating it, and they did not complain when they found portions of the broiled rabbits slightly burnt and found that four fancy crackers with cheese each did not take the place of a big pan of biscuits or a good-sized loaf of bread.
"One thing is in our favor, anyhow," said Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, after they had finished their scant meal. "We won"t have to wash the dishes."
The can was dried over the fire, the cocoa was replaced, and then the lads proceeded to make themselves comfortable for the night. They missed their blankets, and it was therefore decided that they should take turns in sitting up and guarding the fire, so that all might keep warm without running the danger of setting fire to the cedars under which they were resting.
It proved to be a long and wearisome night for most of them. The resting places were anything but soft, and a fitful wind often blew the smoke of the campfire toward the would-be sleepers, causing them to cough and shift their positions. But neither man nor beast came to disturb them, for which they were thankful.
"Going to bother about breakfast?" questioned Jack, as he sat up and saw that Gif and Spouter were already stirring.
"I don"t think so," was the answer. "If you fellows are willing, we"ll strike right out for the Lodge. We can get a better meal there."
The others agreed, and almost before daylight they were on their way again. They climbed to the top of the cliff, and, after moving around cautiously for several hundred feet, reached a well defined trail running in the direction Gif thought they ought to take.
The storm had cleared away, and soon the sun came peeping over the treetops.
"Gee! I won"t do a thing to a good hot breakfast when we reach the Lodge," remarked Randy to his twin.
"I"ll be with you," returned Andy. "A big heaping plate of pancakes with maple syrup for me, flanked by a couple of good-sized sausage cakes and washed down with a big cup of that cocoa!"
"Say, Andy, you make me hungry clean down to my shoes!" burst out Fred.
"I think we"ll all be able to eat a good breakfast by the time we get there," announced Gif.
"Are you sure you are on the right trail, Gif?" questioned Spouter anxiously.
"Yes, I know where I am now. It"s queer how I got mixed up before."
"How much further?" questioned Jack.
"About half a mile."
They crossed another small clearing, and on the edge of this caught sight of several more rabbits. Jack and Randy fired simultaneously and were lucky to bring down two of the bunnies.
"They will help out the larder just so much more," announced Gif, after they had tried for several minutes to stir up more of the rabbits, but without success.
"I wish we could get a chance at some other kind of game," remarked Jack.
Presently they caught sight of Cedar Lodge at a distance, and then all hurried their pace.
"Looks mighty good to a fellow after he"s been away all night," declared Spouter.