“Oh, they’ll wait, and mostly likely start a camp.”

“Say, if I remember rightly the river makes a bend to the right here,” went on Whopper after a pause.  “And if that is so, what’s the matter with our striking inland a short distance and cutting off some of the walk?”

“I’m willing—–­anything to reach Firefly Lake before it gets too dark to see.”

Having rested themselves, the boys commenced to draw away from the river shore, taking to the woods, where the walking was easier.  It was now close to six o’clock, and the sun was going down over the trees to the westward.

“Hope they have supper ready by the time we get there,” said Whopper after a period of silence.  “This transit is making me as hungry as a bear.”

“Same here.  Well, we’ll have the partridge to fall back on, even if they don’t cook anything else.”

The two young hunters tramped on.  As they walked they kept their eyes open for a possible sight of game.  So far all they had seen were some birds, not worth shooting.

Another quarter of a mile was covered when they came to a patch of spruces.  As they advanced they saw several rabbits leap from beside one of the trees.

“A chance for a shot!” cried the doctor’s son, and speedily swung his shotgun into position, an example followed by his chum.  Both young hunters blazed away without delay, and each was successful in laying a rabbit low.  Before they could fire again the rest of the game was out of sight.

“Not very large,” was Shep’s comment as they picked up the game.  “But the rabbits are young, and they’ll make fine eating.”

“It is a good thing that new game law isn’t in effect yet,” said Whopper.  “If it was we’d not be allowed to shoot rabbits until next October.”

“You are right, Whopper—–­hunting will be a good deal more restricted after the new laws go into effect.”

Placing the rabbits in a gamebag, the two chums walked on, past the clump of spruces and then across a little clearing.  Here, much to their surprise, they came in sight of a dilapidated cabin.  It was a small affair of rough logs with a rude stone chimney and one window and one door.  One end of the cabin sagged greatly, as if on the point of falling down.

“I hadn’t any idea this was here,” was the comment of the doctor’s son.  “Wonder who it can belong to?”

“Perhaps some hunters put it up in days gone by,” returned Whopper.  “It doesn’t look as if it was inhabited.”

“Let’s go in and take a look around,” suggested Shep.  It was his delight to poke around in new and odd places.

“We don’t want to lose time,” was his chum’s reply.  “It will be dark before you know it.”

“Oh, it won’t take long to look,” answered Shep.

The old cabin was surrounded by weeds and bushes, and they had to fairly work their way to the doorway.

“Somebody has been here, that’s certain,” cried the doctor’s son.  “Here are eggshells and newly picked chicken feathers.”