tin'!"

But no Jamie came, and there was no answering call. The stretchers
were hastily placed on the ground, and every tent searched for Jamie.

"Jamie's never been comin' back since we leaves!" David declared.
"Whatever has been happenin' to he?"

"I can't understand it," said Doctor Joe. "He could not possibly have
been lost. Andy, you and Micah run down and look at the boats and see
if he has been there."

Andy and Micah ran excitedly to the boats to report a few moments
later that there were no indications of Jamie's return.

"David, you and I shall have to go and look for him," said Doctor Joe
quietly. "Andy, you and the other lads build a fire outside as a
guide. Get your supper, and don't worry until we return."

"What do you think's been happenin' to Jamie?" asked Andy anxiously.

"We took a short cut and did not follow the brook where it makes a
wide bend," suggested Doctor Joe. "He may be waiting for us along the
brook at that point."

"Oh, I hopes you'll find he there!" said Andy fervently.

"Get your rifle and plenty of cartridges, David," directed Doctor Joe.
"I'll carry mine also. When we get up the trail we'll shoot to let
Jamie know we're looking for him."

Each with a rifle on his shoulder, Doctor Joe in the lead and David
following close behind, the two turned away into the now thickly
falling snow and darkness.

CHAPTER XVI

BOUND AND HELPLESS

"See here," said the man in front, stopping and turning about after
what had seemed hours to the exhausted and bruised Jamie, "I for one
ain't goin' to try to cross the Bay to-night in this here snow. It's
thicker'n mud, and there's a sea runnin' I won't take chances with,
not while I'm sober. We may's well bunk."

"Guess you're right, pardner, we better bunk. But pull farther away to
the west'ard before we put on a fire," agreed Jamie's captor with
evident relief. "That bunch'll be out huntin' this here kid, and they
may run on to us if we camp too close to 'em."

"We're a good two mile from 'em now. They'll never run on to us,"
argued the other.

"Go on a piece farther," insisted the man called Bill, who was
gripping Jamie's arm so hard that it ached.

"Let the kid go! What's the use of draggin' him along? He'll just be
in our way, and we've got troubles enough of our own," suggested the
other.

"He ain't goin' back and have a chance to give us away to that bunch,
not if I knows it. I've about made up my mind to croak him. He