“We’ve burnt down one shelter, we don’t want to burn down another,” said old Runnell, and Joe, Harry and Fred agreed with him. By midnight it was so cold that several of the boys could not sleep. Wrapped up in their blankets they huddled so close to the fire that one of them, Bart, had one corner of his wrap badly singed. “Look out, you’re on fire!” came from Joe, in a warning, and Bart leaped up and did a war dance in an effort to brush away the sparks which had reached him. Some water had been brought into the shelter for drinking purposes, but long before morning this was frozen into a solid chunk, which Teddy Dugan surveyed with a comical look on his face. “Sure an’ nobody will be after drinkin’ that,” he said. “If you want water you’ll have to chew it!” “This is the banner cold snap so far,” observed Harry. “I trust the thermometer doesn’t go much lower.” “If it does the bottom will drop out sure,” added Link, with a grin. “I don’t feel much like stirring from the fire,” came from Fred. “See Fred, doubled up like a squaw,” cried Bart. “Fred, are you toasted yet?” “Never mind, I noticed you grumbled as much as I did, during the night,” returned the stout youth. “Did I?” “Did you? Well, I just guess. You wanted all the extra blankets, you did.” “Never mind, boys,” said Joel Runnell. “We’ll have a good hot breakfast, and that will warm us all up.” Pancake flour had been brought along by Link and Bart, and that morning they had coffee, pancakes, and fried rabbit. They did full justice to the meal, and as old Runnell had said, all felt warm and in better humor after the repast was finished. It remained cold all day, and the boys spent the time around the shelter, cutting more firewood, and fixing the place up so that the wind could not get in quite so freely. Link started another snowball fight, but it did not last. Yet Link was out for some fun, and at supper time he reminded Harry of the trick to be played on Teddy. “I’m willing,” came from Harry, readily. “But I think we ought to let the others know, so they can enjoy the fun.” “I shouldn’t tell Runnell. He might want to stop us.” So it was agreed to tell the other boys. All were much interested and did what they could to make Harry and Link look like Indians. First some reddish dirt was dug up and thawed out, after which it was mixed with a little rabbit grease and smeared on their faces. Then some feathers were put in bands and stuck around their heads, and each wrapped himself in a camp blanket, in true Indian style. “You’ve got to have weapons,” said Joe. “Here, each take a hatchet.” “I brought along a bow and some arrows,” said Bart. “Link can take that.” “And I’ll take my gun,” put in Harry. “See that it is empty first,” said Joe, warningly. “We don’t want any accident.” And the weapon was discharged on the spot. All these preparations were made in secret, while old Runnell was out looking for game. The boys had persuaded Teddy to go out, too.