Pine Island, as I have said, was a large one in the midst of Rainbow Lake. Years before, many years, when only the Indians roved about that part of the country, it had been part of the main land, so scientists said. They had located a reef in the lake, and their explanation was, that, through the raising of the waters of the lake, the point of land became surrounded by water, and was made into an island.
It had happened suddenly, and many large, wild animals, as well as some smaller ones, had been trapped there. In time the wild animals, such as deer and bears, had been killed off, and were never replenished. But the small game, such as rabbits, squirrels, opossums and raccoons, were still rather plentiful. The island was protected by game laws, now, so that the supply was not killed off.
Then, too, there was some valuable timber on the island, and Mr. Jessup cut that in the Summer when there was no hunting. He floated it down to Fairview where he sold it.
Off through the snow-covered woods started Mr. Jessup and the boys, with Maybe frisking about here and there, trying to scare up a rabbit or a partridge for his master to shoot. For a time luck was poor, and then some pheasants were flushed, and Mr. Jessup brought down two fat ones.
"Hurray!" cried Bob. "Now we'll have a fine dinner!"
Later on the hunter got two fine rabbits, and oh! how the boys wished they were big enough to have guns!
"I'm coming up here every hunting season, as soon as I'm old enough to shoot!" cried Frank.
"So am I!" exclaimed Sammy and Bob.
As he did not shoot game to sell, and as he had enough for present needs, Mr. Jessup, as all good hunters do in such cases, ceased the use of his gun. With his rabbits and pheasants on his back he led the boys on the return trip. As they came to the old mansion, Sammy asked:
