They managed to kill several hen turkeys, another gobbler, which fell to Ned's gun, and a couple of rabbits, but most of the game seemed to have disappeared, and there was no more in the vicinity of where the boys tramped, dragging the sled after them. They halted for dinner in a dense part of the forest, and, after the meal, started for the place where the corduroy road ended. They judged it to be about six miles from where they were, and knew it would take them about until night-fall to reach it. It was hard work, pulling the sled, but the exercise kept them warm, and they trudged on, plunging into drifts which the wind quickly raised. It started to snow again and the flakes began to blow across their path whipped into stinging particles by the force of the gale. They were enveloped in a white cloud through which they could see only dimly. "Say, it's getting worse and worse!" exclaimed Ned, as he paused for breath after a particularly stiff bit of pulling. "Boys, it's a regular blizzard, that's what it is," cried Bart. "We're certainly in for it now. I don't believe Jim will come for us in a storm like this." "If it isn't a blizzard it's the best imitation of one I ever saw," remarked Frank. "What are we going to do?" "Only thing is to keep on," replied Bart. "Are we going in the right direction?" asked Ned. "Fenn, suppose you take a look at the compass." Fenn, who carried the little instrument, reached in his overcoat pocket for it. He did not find it. Then he looked in several other pockets. "What's the matter? Haven't lost it, have you?" asked Bart. "I'm afraid so. Didn't I give it to you, Ned, this morning?" "Never saw it," replied Ned. Fenn made a more thorough search. The compass was not to be found. The boys stood there helplessly, in the midst of the howling storm, which was now at its height. The snow was a blinding, scurrying, mass of flakes which stung their faces like needles. Overhead the trees were bending to the blast and the gale was roaring through the branches. There was no path. Ten feet ahead it looked like a blank white wall. "Boys, we're lost in the woods, and the blizzard is getting worse!" cried Bart, almost having to shout to make himself heard above the storm. CHAPTER VI A LONELY CABIN "What's to be done?" asked Fenn. "Keep on! We may find the place where we were to meet Jim," advised Frank. "No," Bart said. "That would be foolish. Jim would never come for us on such a night. Besides, we don't know which way to go. We'd better camp here until the storm blows over. We've got everything we need, but it's not going to be much fun under a tent in this weather." "Let's get down more in a hollow," suggested Fenn. "We're on a hill here and get the full force of the wind. If we go on a bit we may find a better place." "Good idea!" exclaimed Bart. "Come on, fellows!"