“Yes, go and get all the fish you can,” said Jack, and the colored boy hurried off without delay, taking his spear with him. “Somebody ought to go out on a hunt,” said Andy. “I’ll go if no one else will.” “You had better stay home,” replied Jack. “If anybody goes it will be myself.” “And I’ll go with you,” said Harry. “What do you say if we start at once?” “Let us wait till ten o’clock. It will be a bit warmer then and also lighter.” The two at once began their preparations for leaving the hut. They wished they had snowshoes, but no one of the party had the least idea how a home-made pair could be constructed so as to be of real value. “I guess we had better follow the creek,” said Harry. “If we go right into the woods we may get lost in the snow and be unable to find our way back through the storm.” “You are right,” returned Jack. “Hullo, here comes Pickles on a run!” “Something is wrong!” cried Boxy. “He looks scared.” “What’s the trouble, Pickles?” called out Harry. “Jess my luck, when we needed dem fish de worst way,” groaned the colored youth. “I oughter be kicked full ob holes, dat’s a fack!” “What is it?” “I dun strike at a big fish, an’ lost de spear!” “Lost the spear?” cried Andy, in dismay. “Dat’s it.” “Did he pull it away from you?” questioned Jack. “No, de cord broke, an’ dat fish went swimmin’ away wid de spear in his tail.” “Well, that is too bad,” put in Harry. “De wust of it is I ain’t got no udder spear along,” said Pickles, gloomily. “Can’t you make a spear?” “I don’t t’ink I kin. Howsomeber, I kin try,” and the colored youth brightened up a bit. “Do so, and if your home-made spear won’t work, try to snare ’em or catch ’em in some other way,” said Jack. “And we’ll help you, while Jack and Harry go gunning,” put in Andy. As Jack had predicted, by ten o’clock it was both warmer and brighter, and he and Harry set off in fairly high spirits, despite the snow which lay in their path. On one side of the creek the snow was swept away for the greater part, and along this cleared track they made their way, keeping a sharp lookout ahead for possible game. “We ought to strike a few rabbits or squirrels, if nothing else,” said Jack. “Unless the heavy storm keeps them from venturing out. It’s hard to find much in weather like this.” “But rabbits must come out for food, even if the squirrels stay in.” “They have their runs, and it’s hard to find them in the open. But come on, we’ll do our best toward gaining something for the larder.” On and on they went, now over a cleared spot, and then again through a drift several feet high. It was tough walking, and before a mile had been covered both were puffing and blowing like a couple of porpoises. “Let’s rest for a few minutes!” gasped Harry. “This takes the wind out of a fellow!” “So it does. Come on behind the brush, where it is sheltered.”