ted that Jamie was, indeed, lost. They ate their belated supper
in silence, half expecting that he would, after all, come walking in
upon them. Doctor Joe was grave and preoccupied. Several times, now
he, now David, went out into the night to stand and listen in the
storm, but all they heard was the wail of wind in the tree tops.

At last, with heavy hearts, they went to bed, upon Doctor Joe's
advice. Andy asked that he might pass the night in the tent with
Doctor Joe and David, and so it was arranged. Neither Andy nor David,
more worried than they had ever been in all their lives before, felt
in the least like sleep. Doctor Joe did not lie down with them. For a
long while the two lads lay awake and watched him crouching before the
stove smoking his pipe, his face grave and thoughtful. He had spoken
no word of encouragement, and the lads knew that he was troubled
beyond expression.

The wind was rising. In sudden gusts of anger it dashed the snow
against the tent in swirling blasts, and moaned dismally through the
tree tops. The crackling fire in the stove, usually so cheerful, only
served now to increase their sorrow. It offered warmth and comfort and
protection from the night and cold and drifting snow, which Jamie, if
he had not perished, was denied. They could only think of him as
wandering and suffering in the cold and darkness, hungry and
miserable, and they condemned themselves.

When sleep finally carried the lads into unconsciousness, Doctor Joe's
tall figure was still crouching before the stove, and when they awoke
he was already up and had kindled a fresh fire in the stove, though it
was not yet day, and the tent was lighted by the flickering flame of
a candle.

"'Twill be daylight by the time we've finished breakfast," said Doctor
Joe as the lads sat up. "It's snowing harder than ever, but I think we
had better go out as soon as we can see and have a look up the brook.
Jamie may not be so far away. We may find him bivouacked quite close
to camp. The snow is getting deep and we shall not find travelling
easy."

"We'll be lookin' the best we can, whatever," agreed David. "I
couldn't bide in the tent with Jamie gone. I'm wakin' with a wonderful
heavy heart. I'm findin' it hard to believe he's not about camp, and I
were just dreamin' about he bein' lost."

"That's the way I feels too," said Andy. "I wakes feelin' most like
I'd have to cry. Can't I be goin' with you and Davy? I never can bide
here whilst