[Luckily, the lake ice is very thick, and with the snow over most of it, they won't be in danger of slipping. John puts the safety back on his rifle and shoulders it along with his pack so that he can follow after Bucky.]

I can probably use it for the Christmas party I'm gonna be putting together. Nice big pot of elk stew.

[That sounds like a plan. He'll have to work quickly on getting the thing skinned and butchered tomorrow.]

Thanks again for the rifle, mate. It's gonna be great for hunting. Wish I'd had it on some of my cases back home. [He snorts.] Easier than shooting someone with a handgun in the middle of the night, anyway.