They found a cleared spot where some thick bushes would protect them from the keen wind and here sat down on a pile of rocks to rest. They had been out just an hour without catching sight of the first thing to shoot. “How I would love to stumble into a lot of partridges or wild turkeys!” exclaimed Jack. “Wouldn’t we just blaze into them, though?” “Even a flock of birds wouldn’t be bad, Jack. Anything for food when the pot is empty.” “You’re right. We mustn’t rest here any more than is necessary.” They were about to proceed on their way, when Jack suddenly caught his companion by the arm. “Look! look! A screech owl!” he whispered. And the next moment he had his gun to his shoulder and was blazing away at a mass of red and white feathers, perched high up in a neighboring tree. There was a terrific screech, and then down tumbled the big bird almost at their feet. He was not quite dead, but a blow from Harry’s gun soon settled him, and he lay still in the snow. “Is he any good for food?” asked Harry, as he surveyed the game. “He’s better than nothing, that’s certain,” said Jack. “I’ll take him along. If we don’t strike anything else, we’ll eat him, and if we do, I’ll cart him home and have him stuffed.” CHAPTER XXX. FOUND STARVING. With the screech owl in Jack’s game-bag, the two boys continued on their way up the creek. It was something to have bagged even the carnivorous bird, and they felt elated to think that at last something had appeared to be shot at. By twelve o’clock they calculated that they were close on to two miles from camp. Each was hungry, and another halt was called for the purpose of eating the scanty lunch with which they had provided themselves before starting off. “We must not go too far off,” said Harry. “For it will never do to attempt to remain away over night in this fearful storm.” “That’s true,” returned Jack. “By three o’clock, game or no game, we will turn our faces homeward again.” “If it would only stop snowing, it wouldn’t be so bad. But this storm is the worst I’ve seen in years!” “It’s a corker, truly! But come on. Every minute counts now!” Once more they pushed on, the snow swirling around their heads. Their legs ached, and it was an effort to make the smallest kind of progress. The cold, too, was intense, and at times seemed to strike into the very marrow of their bones. By the time they had covered another mile they grew discouraged. Not the first sign of game of any kind had appeared. “I move we leave the creek,” said Harry, at last. “We won’t go very far off, and we’ll locate the way so as not to get lost.” “All right, we’ll try it, although it isn’t a safe thing to do, Harry. But we must risk something for the sake of filling our game-bags.” “There is a hollow over to our left, with an overhanging cliff of bushes and trees. I have an idea we may find something under that. It would afford a good shelter for wild animals.” “Like a wildcat, for instance,” laughed Jack.