fire and lounged around, telling stories and talking over the
prospects of getting game. All were enthusiastic, and determined not
to return home until they had brought down "something worth while," as
Snap expressed it.

When the lads came out in the morning, they found that the snowstorm
had cleared away completely. The air was clear and cold, with scarcely
any wind.

Whopper could hardly wait to get his breakfast, so anxious was he to
go after game. Giant suggested that they go on their snowshoes, but
Snap demurred.

"Not the right kind of snow yet," he said. "Let us skirt the lake this
morning and see what we can pick up near camp."

Before they left the Inn they saw to it that every spark of the fire
was extinguished, for the dreadful conflagration of the summer season
had taught them a useful lesson. They also placed their matches in a
tin can, so that they might remain dry and also to keep them from
being lit by some prowling wild beast.

"I once heard of a place being burnt down by a fox," said Giant. "The
animal knocked the match box from a shelf on which some rabbits were
hanging."

"Well, I've often heard of rats setting fire to buildings by igniting
matches," answered Snap.

"Millions of times," came from Whopper. "Rats sometimes do that for a