And the look on his face showed that he was far from being in a pleasant humor. About a mile from the creek the track turned directly toward the lake, and a hundred feet farther on was lost on the clear ice, the snow having been blown in patches by the high wind. “Here’s a state of things!” grumbled Boxy. “We can’t follow that trail on the ice very well.” “Let us take a look ahead,” suggested Jack. “They might have turned on the ice for a short distance merely to destroy the trail.” They looked on and also all about them, and even ran out on the lake for a short distance, but it was useless. The trail was lost and could not be picked up again. At last the boys ceased their search, and gathered in a crestfallen group to discuss the situation. “It’s the worst thing that could happen,” said Boxy. “We can’t continue to camp without our things.” “No; unless we can get cooking utensils and blankets, we’ll have to go home.” “It’s too dark to do more to-night,” said Jack. “Let us make ourselves as comfortable as possible and take up the search again as soon as day breaks.” “That’s the talk!” cried Harry. “We won’t give up till we catch those rascals and recover our belongings.” This proposition suited every one, and, thoroughly tired out from their extra tramp, they returned to the hut. Pickles set to work with a will to build up a roaring fire, and to protect them from the cold while they slept without blankets this was placed as closely to the opening of the hut as they dared to put it. The small kettle came in handy for heating water, and a haunch of venison was soon spitted over the fire. Despite their downcast spirits, the boys all ate heartily. When they had finished, everything was left in readiness for an early breakfast in the morning. Luckily, it was not extra cold, and the wind came in such a direction that the hut was greatly sheltered. So, although somewhat cold, the boys still managed to put in a fairly comfortable night, sleeping as they did, in their overcoats, with the fire just outside of the door. At the first streak of dawn in the east, Harry was up, and he quickly aroused the others. Ten minutes later they were eating breakfast. “We’ll have to take some provisions along for dinner,” said Jack. “There is nothing else to take but deer meat,” grumbled Andy. “Those chaps took everything, even our squirrels and rabbits.” “Well, we won’t starve on deer meat,” returned Harry, as cheerfully as he could; “but, nevertheless, we’ll have an account to settle with those fellows when we catch them.” “Maybe they’ll defy us,” said Boxy. “Some tramps are mighty nasty.” “What of that? We are all armed,” said Jack, and the look on his face told that he was willing to fight for his own every time. Pickles’ haversack was soon packed with cooked deer meat, the fire was banked up for the day, and then off they sat in quest of their belongings.