For several hours they sat grouped around the colored youth, while he, with a jack-knife, half-a-dozen thin slabs of wood, some stout twine and several pliable switches, showed them how to construct a squirrel trap, a rabbit trap, and also traps for various birds. “But we can’t do nuthin’ wid dem jess now,” remarked Pickles. “’Cos we can’t find no runs in dis snow.” “Do traps have to be set in runs for wild animals?” asked Boxy. “Da don’t hab to be, but it’s generally best; yo’ ketches dem quicker.” After making traps, the boys began to play various games, such as throwing the knife, and who’s got the bean, and the like. In this manner time went by until it was nearly three o’clock in the afternoon. They had had a lunch at noon of crackers and cheese, expecting to wait until evening before getting another regularly cooked meal, but now both Andy and Boxy declared that they were hungry again, and it was voted that they should go out, stir up the waning fire and get ready to cook a bit of venison in the pot with several onions Pickles had been thoughtful enough to bring along. “You see, we needn’t be afraid of the onions, because we are not going out in company this evening,” said Boxy, in imitation of a young society miss. “So, Mr. DeBrown won’t have a chance of catching my breath.” “I wonder how things are at Rudskill,” remarked Harry. “I suppose our folks keep thinking about us,” said Andy. “They’ll imagine we are completely snowed under and starving.” “Yes, it’s a pity they don’t know we are so comfortable,” put in Jack. “A good shelter, and plenty to eat are big things out here just now.” “Hark!” cried Pickles, who stood by the doorway, ready to go out. “What am dat?” “I don’t hear anything,” said Andy, after a brief pause. “I heard a scratching,” put in Harry, in a whisper. “It’s some wild animal after food,” returned Jack, in an equally low tone of voice. “What can it be?” questioned Andy. They were silent after this, and soon the scratching could be heard quite plainly. Then, before they could realize it, something sprang upon the top of the hut. “The deer meat!” cried Harry. “It is all outside, hanging on the tree limb!” “And so are the rest of the rabbits!” put in Jack. “We must go outside and shoot that creature, whatever it is!” Jack caught up his gun, as did also Harry, and together they sallied forth in the howling snowstorm. At first amid the swirling snow they could see nothing. Then Harry caught sight of an immense wildcat making off with the venison in its mouth. He took hasty aim and fired. None of the shot reached its mark, and an instant later the wildcat was gone, before Jack could get any show at it. CHAPTER XXIX. BLUE TIMES IN CAMP. “Well, I’ll be blowed!” exclaimed Harry, in deep disgust. “It’s too bad!” returned Jack. “And he had the last of our venison, too!” The other boys now came out of the hut, and matters were speedily explained to them.