Their route now lay over some hills that were more or less strange to them.  But they had received many instructions from Jed Sanborn, and thought they would have little trouble in gaining a trail back of the hills that led into the Windy Mountains.

“Are the mountains really windy?” asked Snap as they began the climb up the hills back of the lake, each with a good-sized load strapped to his back.

“They are only windy at certain times of the year,” answered the doctor’s son.  “But when it blows, why, it blows, so Jed Sanborn said.”

“Then we’ll have to put our tent up good and strong,” came from Whopper.  “We don’t want to wake up some night and find ourselves blown into the middle of next year!”

“And dying to know how we are going to get back,” added Giant dryly.

“Giant, if you say dying again—–­” began Whopper.

“Save your wind, boys!” interrupted Shep.  “We’ve got a long and hard climb before us.”

What the doctor’s son said about the climb was true—–­the way was a steady pull upward, and they had frequently to stop to get their breath.  It was nearly eleven o’clock when they reached the top of the hill.  They had been on the upgrade for three hours.

“Let us rest until after dinner,” said Snap.  “No use killing ourselves.”

“We’ve still got some miles to go,” answered Shep.

“I know it—–­but it will be mostly down grade—–­at least, until we reach the foot of the mountains.”

It was decided to rest, and all of the young hunters willingly slipped their loads and sat down.  Below them was Firefly Lake, with Lake Cameron in the distance on one side and Lake Narsac in the distance on the other.  Back of them lay the Windy Mountains, with a hollow of trees and bushes between.  The boys viewed the mountains with interest, thinking of the outing they hoped to have there.

CHAPTER XIV

AFTER DEER WITH GUN AND CAMERA

“I hope we strike a good camping spot by night,” said Snap, “for, unless I miss my guess, it will rain before morning.”

“Oh, don’t say rain!” cried Giant.  “We can do without rain.”

“It may not be a lasting storm, but some rain will come, mark my words.”

“I think I see the trail up the mountains,” said Whopper, who was looking through a pair of fieldglasses.  “Anyway, it’s path of some kind.”

The others gave a look, and all decided that Whopper was right.

Resuming their loads after the noonday repast, they started down the hill in the direction of Windy Mountains.  They had some big bare rocks to cover, and slipped and slid over these as best they could, and then plunged straight into a thick woods.

“Ought to be hunting here, if anywhere,” observed Shep.  “Looks as if it was new ground for sportsmen.”

“Beware of sink holes!” cried Whopper as he reached a rather soft spot.  “We don’t want to go down as we did the other time we were out.”