ogs who dragged his
particular conveyance. Every now and then his shrill laughter came to
Jalap's ears, and assured the latter that the child was safe.

Alter a while the explorers returned, both completely discouraged and
perplexed.

"I don't believe there is any inlet to this wretched lake!" cried Phil,
flinging himself down on a pile of robes. "I've searched every foot of
coast on my side, and am willing to swear that there isn't an opening
big enough for a rabbit to squeeze through, so far as I went."

"Nor could I find a sign of one," affirmed Serge, "though perhaps in the
morning--"

"Hello! Where's Nel-te?" interrupted Phil, springing to his feet and
gazing about him anxiously.

"He were about here just as you boys kim in," replied Jalap Coombs,
suspending operations at the fire, and gazing about him with a startled
expression. "I heered him playing with the dogs not more'n a minute
ago."

"Well, he isn't in sight now," said Phil, in a voice whose tone betrayed
his alarm, "and if we don't find him in a hurry there's a chance of our
not doing it at all, for it will be dark in fifteen minutes more."

As he spoke, Phil hastily replaced the snow-shoes that he had just laid
aside. Serge did the same thing, and then they began to circle about the
camp with heads bent low in search of the tiny trail. At short intervals
they called aloud the name of the missing one, but only the mocking
forest echoes answered them.

Suddenly Serge uttered a joyful shout. He had found the prints of small
snow-shoes crossed and recrossed by those of dogs. In a moment Phil
joined him, and the two followed the trail together. It led for a short
distance along the border of the lake in the direction previously taken
by Phil, and then making a sharp bend to the right struck directly into
the forest.

When the boys reached the edge of the timber they found a low opening so
overhung by bushes as to be effectually concealed from careless
observation. The curtaining growth was so bent down with a weight of
snow that even Nel-te must have stooped to pass under it. That he had
gone that way was shown by the trail dimly visible in the growing dusk,
and the lads did not hesitate to follow. Forcing a path through the
bushes, which extended only a few yards back from the lake, they found
themselves in an open highway, evidently the frozen surface of a stream.

"Hurrah!" shouted Phil, who was the first to gain it. "I believe this is
the very