SNOWBALLS
"Are we very far from Snow Lodge?" asked Nan, after a pause. "We didn't
think we would have any trouble getting back to it."
"You're about three miles away, and the path is hard to find in the
darkness and storm," said the young hunter slowly. "Let me think what is
best to do."
He remained leaning on his gun, staring into the fire, which was now
burning brightly. Then he spoke again.
"You youngsters certainly have made this a fine shelter. I couldn't have
done it much better myself. It's just the thing to keep out the cold
wind."
"We thought we'd have to stay here all night," said Bert. "We made some
hot chocolate. We've got a little left. Will you take some?"
"No, thank you," replied Henry Burdock. "I generally carry a little to
eat with me, and I just finished my night lunch. I had some cold coffee
that I warmed up, too. I'm sorry, but if I had known I was going to meet
you folks I'd have saved some."
"Oh, we're all right," declared Harry. "We can finish our chocolate, and
then perhaps you can show us the way back to Snow Lodge."
"Yes," spoke Henry Burdock, slowly, "I could do that. I know the way
well enough. But it's a hard path to travel in the storm, and after
dark. I don't believe you girls could manage it," and he looked at Nan
and Dorothy.
"Oh, yes, we could!" Nan exclaimed. "We've had a good rest, and papa and
mamma will be so anxious about us!"
"I'd like first rate to take you all home," said the hunter, "but I
think I have a better plan. My shack isn't far from here. I could take
you all there, and you could stay until morning. Then I could go to Snow
Lodge and tell them you were all right. When it was daylight they could
come for you in the sled."
"Maybe that would be best," agreed Bert.
"But won't it be too much of a trip for you?" asked Nan.
"No, I'm used to roaming about the woods," said Mr. Carford's nephew,
with a sad smile. "A few miles more or less won't make any difference,
and I know every inch of this forest. I've had to," he added. "It's the
only home I have now."
"Yes, we--we heard about you," said Nan quickly, and there was kindness
in her voice. "It's too bad your uncle acted as he did, and sent you
away."
"Well, he thought he was doing right," said Henry. "I don't know as I
blame him. Your father, though, he stuck to me, and I'm glad I can do
his children a favor."
"Indeed, it seems too much to ask," spoke Dorothy, for Nan had whispered
to her and Harry the details of the story of the missing money which
Henry Burdock was suspected of taking.
"I don't mind," said the hunter. "I didn't do much walking to-day. Game
was not very plentiful, though I got some. Now I'll lead you to my
shack. It's small, but it's warm, and you can be comfortable there until
daylight. I was walking through the woods, when I saw the flicker of
your fire, and came up to see what it was."
"And I couldn't imagine what it was I heard when I woke up," said Bert.
"I was a bit frightened at first," he admitted, with a smile.
"I don't blame you," said Henry. "And, since we are talking about Snow
Lodge, I want to say that I never took that money. It was on the mantel
in the living room, just as my uncle says it was, for I saw it. I don't
deny but what I would have been glad to have it, for I had been foolish,
and I owed more than I could pay. But I never took that roll of bills."
"Have you any idea who did?" asked Bert.
"Not in the least. And as I was the only one in the house, besides my
uncle, of course it made it look as if I had taken it, especially as the
money totally disappeared. But I never laid a hand on it."
"It is too bad," said Bert. "Maybe some day the bills will be found and
you will be cleared."
"I hope so," sighed Henry. "But it's been some years now, and my uncle
has considered me a thief all that while. I've gotten so I don't much
care any more. Living in the woods makes you sort of that way. You do a
lot of thinking.
"But there!" exclaimed the young hunter, straightening up. "This isn't
doing you children any good. I'd better be taking you to my place
instead of staying here. Have you anything to carry?"
"My camera--that's all," said Nan. "I'll get it," and she darted into
the shelter after it. Then, when the fire had been extinguished so there
would be no danger of it spreading, the young folks set off after Henry
Burdock, who led the way. He seemed to know it, even in the darkness,
but of course the white snow on the ground made the path rather easy to
pick out.
In a short time they came to a log cabin, which was the "shack" the
hunter had mentioned. It was the work of but a few minutes to open it,
and blow into flames the fire that was smouldering on the hearth. A lamp
had been lighted and the place was warm and cozy enough for anyone.
"Oh, this is fine!" cried Nan. "If the folks knew we were here we would
be all right, and not worry."
"They'll soon know it," said Mr. Burdock. "I'm going to set off at once
for Snow Lodge. Will you be afraid to stay here?"
"Not a bit of it!" exclaimed Bert, and the others agreed with him.
Leaving the game he had shot, Henry Burdock started off again through
the storm-swept woods, while Bert and the others made themselves at home
in the cabin. Mr. Burdock had showed them where he kept his food, and
the boys and girls enjoyed a midnight lunch, for it was now after twelve
o'clock.
It was about three in the morning when the hunter came back, to find his
young friends asleep. He let himself in quietly, and not until daylight,
when they awoke, did he tell them of his trip.
He had reached Snow Lodge safely, there to find Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey
almost distracted over the absence of the children. Mr. Bobbsey and Sam
had searched as well as they could, and they were just going off to
arouse some nearby farmers and make a more thorough hunt when Mr.
Burdock came in.
That his news was welcome need not be said, and Mrs. Bobbsey wept for
joy when she knew that her children and the others were safe. They
wanted the young hunter to remain until daylight, and go back with them
in the sled, but he said he would rather go on to his cabin now. Perhaps
he did not feel that he should remain in Snow Lodge, from where his
uncle had driven him in anger years before.
Mr. Burdock gave Mr. Bobbsey directions how to find the cabin, and, as
soon as the first streak of daylight showed, the lumber merchant and Sam
set off in the big sled. Flossie and Freddie were not awake, or they
might have been taken along.
And a little later Bert, Nan, Dorothy and Harry were safe in Snow Lodge
once more.
For some days after this the weather was stormy, so that the young folks
could not go far from Snow Lodge. But they managed to have good times
indoors, or out in the big barn.
Then came another thaw, and a freeze followed some days later, making
good skating. One afternoon Bert proposed to Harry that they go for a
trip on the ice-boat.
"But not too far," cautioned his father. "We don't want you to get lost
again."
"No, we'll only go a mile or so," said Bert. "Want to come, Nan and
Dorothy?"
The girls did, and so, also, did Flossie and Freddie, but their mother
would not allow this. So Freddie got out his engine and played fireman,
while his little sister put her walking and talking doll through her
performance. Snap, the trick dog, with many barks, raced off with Bert
and the older children.
The _Ice Bird_ sailed well that day, skimming over the frozen lake at a
fast pace, and the children greatly enjoyed the sport. Snap sat on with
the others, looking as though he liked it as well as anyone.
They sailed up the lake for some distance and then got out to look for a
cave which Bert had heard was a short distance from shore. They did not
find it at once, but while they were climbing up a little hill, thinking
the cave might be somewhere near it, Harry was suddenly startled to
receive a snowball on his ear.
"Ouch!" he cried. "Who threw that?"
They all stopped and looked around. No one was in sight.
"Maybe it fell off a tree," suggested Nan.
"It came too hard for that," declared Harry. "It was thrown."
They looked about again, but, seeing no one, went on. Then, suddenly
there came another ball, and Dorothy cried:
"There, that came out of a tree, for I saw it. Right over there," and
she pointed.
"Then if it came out of a tree someone is up the tree!" declared Bert,
"and I'm going to see who it is."
As he rushed forward a snowball struck him full in the face.