By this time it had begun to snow a little. Now that the enemy were gone each found himself hungry. “We’ll get a hasty meal, and then start for camp,” said Harry. “I shan’t feel perfectly safe until I’m back with the others.” But as the meal progressed they grew calmer, and even examined the dead wolves with interest. “We’ll have a tale to tell when we get back,” said Joe. “Let us take the tails to verify our tale,” laughed Harry, and cut off the wolves’ tails without further words. It was not until half an hour later that they had their drags fixed, ready to start back for Pine Island. By this time the snow was coming down heavily. “We’re up against a regular storm now, that’s certain,” came from Joe, as he surveyed the darkening sky. “Well, I declare, if I haven’t lost my pocket-knife!” ejaculated Harry, as he searched his pockets. “It’s the new one, too—the one Laura and Bessie gave me on my last birthday.” Both, of the youths began a search that lasted another quarter of an hour, when the knife was found among the branches of one of the drags. “And now don’t let us lose any more time,” came from Joe. “The wind is rising, and we’ll have all we can do to get back to the lodge before night.” He was right about the wind. It was already moaning and sighing among the pines, and causing the snow to swirl in several directions. The increased cold also affected them, and caused Harry to shiver. “I’d give as much as a dollar to be back to camp,” he announced. “Hauling this load is going to be no picnic.” “Follow in my footsteps, Harry,” came from his brother, and Joe led the way out of the wood and down to the lake shore. Here it seemed to snow and blow harder than ever, and the snow was piling up in drifts that looked far from inviting. For a moment the boys thought of turning back and going into a temporary camp until the storm should subside. But they knew that Fred and Runnell would worry over their non-appearance, and so pushed on in as straight a course as they could lay down. The farther they got out on the lake the more the snow swirled around them. The snow was now as hard as salt, and beat into their faces and down their necks in spite of all they could do to protect themselves. Thus less than half a mile was covered, when Harry called a halt. “I—I can’t get my breath,” he gasped. “Joe, this is fearful.” “I guess it’s something of a blizzard, Harry. Come on, we can’t stay here.” “Hadn’t we better go back?” “It’s just as bad to go back as it is to go ahead.” “I can’t see a dozen yards in any direction.” “It’s the same with me.” “Then how do you know that you are going in the right direction?” “Oh, the island is over there, isn’t it?” “I should say a little to the left of that.” “Well, it’s between those two points, and we can’t miss the shore, even if we don’t strike the lodge. As soon as we get close enough we can fire a gun as a signal to Fred and old Runnell.”