Jed Sanborn had shown them how they might pile up some rocks for a rude chimney, banking up the lower part outside with dirt, and this they finished first.  Then the top was put on the new structure and the sides, one end having a small door and the other an even smaller window.  The flooring was of hard dirt, with cedar boughs in two corners for couches.  In the shack they found a rude bench and a table, and these they transferred to the cabin.  When they tried their new fireplace they found it worked well, the smoke going up the rude chimney without difficulty.

“Now, this is something like!” declared Giant, as he surveyed the work.  “Even in a storm we can be quite comfortable here.”

“Providing the roof doesn’t leak,” declared Shep.  “When it rains we must watch for leaks and try to stop them up—–­with bark or with the canvas.”

CHAPTER XII

SHEP AND THE HOLLOW TREE

For several days after the cabin was finished, the boys rested from their labors and took it easy.  An unusually warm spell followed the short cold snap and one day, at noon, all took a dip in the lake.  But the water was so cold they remained in only a few minutes and all were glad enough to hurry back into their clothing.

“A cold bath like that goes a good ways,” declared Shep.  “If a fellow stayed in too long he’d freeze to death.”

“Why, my back is full of icicles now!” declared Whopper.  “Feels as if I had gotten locked in a refrigerator by mistake.”

“Like the tramp they caught at Westport last summer,” came from Giant, with a laugh.  “He stole a ride on the cars and got into a refrigerator car by mistake.  The car was packed with ice and wasn’t opened for forty-eight hours after it started.  The poor tramp was about half dead when they got him out.”

Early on the following Friday morning, Shep and Snap went out on a hunt, leaving Whopper and Giant to look after the camp and fish, if they felt like putting out any lines.  It was a bright, breezy day and all of the boys were in the best of humor.

“We may not be back until late,” said Snap, as he and Shep moved away.  “So don’t worry if you don’t see us.”

“All right—–­we’ll save you some supper,” answered Whopper.

Snap and Shep had decided to try their luck in the woods to the north of Firefly Lake, taking to an old deer trail that Jed Sanborn had pointed out to them.  They were after any game that might appear, but did not look for anything big, for the older hunter had informed them that it would be next to impossible to spot any deer until the snow was on the ground.

Each youth carried his shotgun and his gamebag, containing his dinner, and also a good supply of ammunition.

The boys walked a good half mile before they saw any indications of game.  Then Snap called a halt and pointed to a little clearing.  Looking through some brushwood, Shep made out half a dozen wild turkeys, feeding peacefully.