There was a decided tang of frost in the air, which told that the summer
season was gone and early fall arrived.

It might seem strange that these boys, who in October might be expected
to be deep in the fall school term, should be away from home and up in
the wilderness.

That was where Good Luck remembered them again, and the explanation is
simple enough.

Even in the well-managed town of Carson, school directors sometimes
neglected their work. And in this year, when the vacation period was
three quarters over, the discovery was made that the big building was in
such a bad condition that certain extensive repairs would have to be
made.

In consequence, greatly to the delight of the older scholars, it was
decided that school for them could not take up until the middle of
November.

As soon as Max learned of this delightful fact he knew the time had come
for their long-promised visit to Trapper Jim.

They had been tempted to go during the summer months, but as there was
little to do in the woods at that period of the year save fishing, the
boys had been holding off.

Now they could expect to use their guns; to see how Jim set his cunning
traps that netted him such rich rewards each winter season, and to enjoy