The Rover Boys on a Hunt | Page 8

Randy's shoulder.
"Great pyramids of Egypt!" gasped Randy. "Is that a snowslide?" For
some of the snow had filled his ear and gone down his neck.
"Oh, we didn't begin this, you know," cried the chauffeur gleefully.
"Come on, Shout; let's show 'em what the older generation can do."
And then he picked up another chunk of snow and hurled it at Andy,
nearly burying that youth while he was endeavoring to regain his feet.
"Hi! Hi you!" spluttered Andy. "We went in for snowballing. We didn't
go in for avalanches."
"When you start something, always be sure you can finish it,"
admonished Bob Nixon. And then he picked up a third chunk of snow;
but before he could make use of it the Rover twins had dived out of
sight around a corner of the school building.
"I guess that's the time we got the worst of it," remarked Andy ruefully.
"And maybe we deserved it," was Randy's ready response. "Come on
and snowball some of the other cadets."
A number were willing, and an impromptu snowballing battle took
place which lasted the best part of a quarter of an hour. Then one of the

teachers came out and ordered the youths upstairs, for this was the
study hour.
On Sundays such of the cadets as desired to do so were permitted to
attend one or another of the churches in Haven Point. All of the Rovers
went to church, and there met, not only Mary and Martha, but also Ruth
Stevenson, May Powell, and some of the other girls.
"Well, Jack, I suppose this snowy weather puts you in mind of the time
you went to my Uncle Barney's place on Snowshoe Island," remarked
Ruth Stevenson, with a bright smile at the young captain, who, of
course, was dressed in his best uniform.
"That's what it does, Ruth," he answered. "And, my, what a good time
we did have! How is your uncle getting along?"
"Very well indeed. He is a changed man since he stopped quarreling
with my folks and since it has been proved that Snowshoe Island is
really and truly his property."
"I'm glad we were able to help the old man."
"Have you decided on what you intend to do during the coming
holidays?" continued the girl from Clearwater Hall.
"Not exactly, Ruth. More than likely we'll go home with the girls and
spend some time with our mothers. They probably feel pretty lonely
now that our dads have gone to Europe."
"Yes, I can imagine how that must be."
"You girls ought to come down with Mary and Martha."
"We're talking of doing that," put in May Powell. "You see, we wanted
them to come up to my house first, and then Ruth wanted them. But as
their mothers are now all alone in New York they thought it best that
we should spend the time down there. We could have something of a
house party, and that would help cheer the older folks up."

"A good idea!" came from Fred. "Do it by all means!"
"Yes, you girls can have a fine time in New York during the winter
holidays," added Randy.
"I suppose you boys will want to go off hunting," said May, pouting a
little. "I wish I was a boy and could do that!"
"Gee! I wish we could go off hunting, like we did that time at
Snowshoe Island," cried Randy wistfully. "Such an outing would suit
me right down to the ground."
"Gif Garrison said something a few days ago about going off on a
hunt," remarked Fred. "He says his father some years ago bought a
place known as Cedar Lodge. He didn't tell me very much about it. In
fact, he acted quite mysteriously."
"I suppose he didn't want to hurt your feelings, Fred," returned Jack.
"More than likely he knew you would feel bad to have him going off
for a good time up in the woods and have you and the rest of us staying
at home."
Two days passed, and the young cadets were so busy getting ready for
the examinations previous to the midwinter holidays that they had no
time to pay attention to anything else. They heard that Bill Glutts was
openly boasting that the Yellow Streak could beat any bobsled in that
vicinity and that the Blue Moon had won the contest by a foul. But to
this just then they paid no attention.
"I'll get at Bill later--just wait!" was the way Jack expressed himself,
and the others knew that the young captain would keep his word.
On Wednesday the boys received letters from home stating that word
had come in that their fathers were still in the trenches in France. No
serious fighting had so far taken place in