“Oh, but I wish I had been on hand—–­to git a crack at that bear!” cried the hunter.  “I ain’t had a crack at a bear fer some time.  They are gittin’ scarce around here.”

It was time to eat again, and they made a splendid dinner of some baked maskalonge, Jed Sanborn showing them how to turn out the fish in a manner that was appetizing to the last degree.  Shep also made some biscuits, which, if they were not first-class, were far from what boys usually call “sinkers.”

“I hope nobody comes to disturb us here,” said Snap.  “I think if we are left alone we’ll have the time of our lives.”

While they ate they discussed the question of putting up another cabin.  Giant was very eager to go ahead and so was Whopper—–­both loving the work fully as much as they loved hunting and fishing.

“All right, we’ll build a cabin,” said Snap.  “But first we must get together something to eat, as we did before.”

That afternoon all went out hunting with Jed Sanborn and he showed them where to find a good supply of rabbits, and took them to a hollow among the hills where the partridges were thick.  All fired at once, and as a consequence they got eight of the game.  Their rabbits numbered sixteen, and they also brought down three squirrels.  Coming back to the camp, Jed Sanborn took a long shot at some wild ducks that were flying overhead and brought down two, which he added to their stock.

“Now, do a little fishing, and you’ll have enough to eat fer a week,” he said.

“Before you go away I want you to show us how to set some traps, Jed,” said Snap.

“I’ll do that,” was the answer, and the very next day the old hunter made for them a trap to catch birds, another for mink and also a beaver trap.

“When I come ag’in I’ll bring you something to put in the beaver trap,” said the hunter.  “It’s a stuff we call barkstone.  The beavers can’t resist it nohow.  As soon as they smell it they have to walk right into the trap after it.”  He referred to castoreum, a liquid obtained from the beaver, or castor, itself and having a powerful odor which acts on the animal just as catnip acts on a cat.

The weather had now turned off colder and they were glad to huddle close to the camp-fire at night.  Before going to bed the hunter told the boys a bear story that all pronounced a “rattler.”

The building of the new cabin began in earnest the next day, and Jed Sanborn told them how it might be put together to the best advantage, and even aided in cutting down some of the necessary logs.

“I’ve got to go back to town to-morrow,” he said.  “But I’ll come back here before very long.  I’ll bring you anything you want.”

“In that case I’ll make out a list,” answered Snap, and did so, with the aid of the others.  Jed Sanborn left the next day at noon; and it was some time before they saw him again.

“And now to get at this cabin in earnest,” said Shep, after the departure of the hunter.