by Quincy Allen
CHAPTER VI
THE LONE CABIN
"Here's trouble ahead!" declared Jerry, in evident disgust; "becausesure enough that's certainly the ugly beast we saw on the train."
"Bill Nackerson's dog!" exclaimed Will.
Bluff was still staring. He seemed half-inclined to doubt hiseyesight. Just then the dingy-looking animal gave a series of snappybarks; after which expression of defiance to the boys he turned andscampered away at a rapid pace.
"For three cents I'd knock him over," muttered Bluff angrily.
"It would be silly for you to try it, Bluff," Frank told him, "andonly give the dog's owner a good reason for taking the law in his ownhands."
"But, just think of it, that crowd must have got off at the nextstation, Frank!" declared Bluff.
"Well, they had a right to, if they felt like it, I suppose," he wastold. "Since when did the railroad company give us charge over thetrains up here in Maine, that we could object to anybody leaving thecars? We did that when we felt like it."
"Yes, but we're going to have that bunch around here, and they'll beour rivals in the hunting," Bluff continued vigorously.
"If half they tell us is true," laughed Frank, determined not to crossrivers before he came to them, "there'll be plenty of game here for usall."
"But when that Nackerson knows we're here he'll just as like as nottry to make things uncomfortable for us," Jerry broke in, showing thathe felt the same way Bluff did.
"Oh! let's hope not," murmured Will, whose motto was peace.
"If they bother us too much we can let Mr. Darrel know about it,"Frank went on calmly.
"That's so," Will burst out, "and I tell you if a bunch of those huskylumberjacks got busy, they'd chase Nackerson and his cronies out ofthe Big Woods in a hurry, believe me!"
At the same time, while Frank tried to make light of the impendingtrouble, deep down in his heart he feared they were to find theNackerson set of sporting men unpleasant neighbors.
"The only bother it can make us that I can see," Frank told theothers, "is that we'll have to do all our roaming around in couples.There must be no solitary jaunts. With two to handle they wouldhesitate to attempt anything serious. Remember that always, will you,boys?"
"It's just as well," remarked Will, "and whoever stays in camp with mecan help with my photograph work. I'm in earnest about succeeding inmy particular branch on this trip; and p'raps you'd like to know thereason why."
"We certainly would," Frank told him; "I've had an idea that you werekeeping something back all this while; so out with it."
Will chuckled, and took some papers from his pocket.
"That's a folder issued by one of the big Maine railroads," heexplained. "You see, I happened to read in a paper that they hadoffered some pretty nice cash prizes for the best photographs takenthis season that would show what woods life up here stood for. Theoffer holds good up to New Year's Day."
"And you mean to enter--to try for the money?" demanded Bluff.
"That's what I expect to," was the reply. "I've complied with all theconditions they impose, and if I'm lucky enough to get somefirst-class views while in the Big Woods, I mean to submit them incompetition. It may be keen, and I'll stand little show, but nothingventure nothing win."
Bluff knew what splendid work Will had been doing in the line of sporthe had taken as his especial hobby.
"Now, excuse me for differing with you there," he said, "but I'd liketo say right here that if you go in for those prizes they're sure todrop into your hand like ripe plums. You know how to get resultsbetter'n any amateur photographer I ever ran across."
They were once more pushing forward while discussing this latestmatter. For the time being every one seemed to have quite forgottenthe unpleasant feeling conjured up by the sudden appearance of thedog.
It was near the middle of the day when, after following the stream inits meanderings for quite two miles, Frank pointed out to them theobject of their search.
"There's the little cabin, sure enough," said Bluff, his voice full ofpleasure, "and let me tell you it looks all that Mr. Darrel cracked itup to be."
"For my part I think we ought to be as comfortable as four bugs in arug in such a cozy hut," Will told them, happy in the thought that hecould now drop that heavy pack, and before long start to taking someof the beautiful scenes of the snowy woods.
There was only an inch or so of the white covering on the ground, butit gave the landscape a wintry appearance. They had really had more ofa fall in their far distant home town, Frank remembered, thinking ofthe snowball battle, and the broken window.
A few minutes later they were inside the cabin. Every boy expressedhimself as delighted with the prospects. There was a huge fireplace,and just four bunks ranged around the interior, with a rude table, anda number of home-made rustic chairs.
It did not take them long to begin to make things seem homelike, oncethey had their packs open. The cheery sound of the ax at work toldthat a fire would soon add to the charm of that interior. Then wouldfollow the delightful odors of cooking, with each boy taking his turn.
By the time the afternoon was well along they had managed to stoweverything in the place where it was intended to be found. Theirwell-beloved blankets, that had accompanied them on numerous outings,were settled each in the particular bunk its owner had chosen.
"Now that I've hung our cooking things up on these nails alongside thefireplace there's a cheery look about the place I like," Willannounced, with considerable pride in his voice.
"And that pile of firewood outside the door, cut by all of us in turn,stands for solid comfort in my eyes," Jerry remarked, as he ruefullysurveyed the first row of blisters on palms unused to such hard work.
"With plenty of game to be had," announced Bluff, patting his favoritegun, "we ought to be as happy as the day is long--only for that toughcrowd being somewhere close by."
"Frank," remarked Will, "have you any idea how far away they arecamping?"
"Well, that would be a hard question to answer," replied the other,smiling, "only for the fact that our friend, Mr. Darrel, happened tomention a little thing I expect might have a bearing on what you wantto know."
"But he couldn't know anything about that Nackerson crowd?" objectedJerry.
"I don't suppose he did," Frank informed him, "but in telling me howto get over to his little lodge he mentioned another log cabin thatlay in the woods on the way here. He said it was an old one that sometrappers had used long ago. The roof was bad, but might be repaired.Sometimes hunters stopped there a night or two when passing through."
"Then that must be where those men are putting up," said Will. "Let'shope two nights will be their limit, and that none of us run acrossthem when off in the big timber."
"Forget about such an unpleasant subject," advised Frank. "Everythinglooks bright and promising around us, so what's the use bothering withtrouble that may never happen?"
He changed the subject, and soon the others had apparently forgottenall about the near presence of Bill Nackerson and his evil companions.
Supper that evening was a meal not soon to be forgotten. The boys allhad a hand in its preparation. Soon they meant to adopt a system thatwould give each one his regular turn at this important duty.
And then afterward, how jolly it was to make themselves comfortablebefore a roaring fire, and talk of home, or the many interestingthings that had happened to them on past outings.
Later on all were snuggled down under their blankets in their bunks.The fire burned low, and would perhaps go out entirely before dawncame.
The last thing Bluff remembered hearing was the far-off hooting ofsome owl that braved the winter's cold. It seemed to soothe him, for,listening, and occasionally hearing the cheery cackle of the fire,Bluff lost himself in sleep.