you're away, Doctor Joe."

"Yes, we three will go and we'll take some of the other lads with us,
though we'll have to leave somebody in camp to keep the fire going,"
agreed Doctor Joe. "We'll need warm tents when we come back, if we
bring Jamie with us, and I hope we'll find him none the worse for his
night out."

"'Tisn't like 'twere winter," suggested David hopefully. "'Tisn't so
cold, if he were havin' matches to put on a fire, but I'm doubtin' he
has matches."

"Let us hope he had. Andy, suppose you call the others," suggested
Doctor Joe. "Breakfast is nearly ready."

Andy was already dressed, and hurrying out he presently returned with
the other lads. Breakfast of venison and bread with hot tea was
hurriedly eaten, while they put forth all sorts of theories as to the
cause of Jamie's disappearance and the possibilities of finding him.

"I'm thinkin' now," said David with a more hopeful view as daylight
began to filter through the tent, "that Jamie'll be knowin' how to fix
a shelter, and that we'll be findin' he safe and that he'll be just
losin' his way a bit in the storm. If he has matches he'll sure be
puttin' a fire on."

"I'm doubtin' he has the matches," suggested Andy discouragingly. "He
weren't thinkin' to be away from camp and he weren't takin' any. He
were never on the trails, and he'd sure be forgettin' to take un."

"Let us hope he has them," Doctor Joe encouraged. "If he has matches
I'm sure he'll be safe enough."

"'Twere my fault he were gettin' lost," said Seth. "He'd never been
gettin' lost if I'd only kept he in sight the way you said to do."

"No," objected Doctor Joe, "we'll not say it was anybody's fault."

Presently they were ready. Seth and Micah were detailed to remain in
camp, and the others set forth, David and Doctor Joe carrying their
rifles.

In much the same manner as that adopted in the search for the rock the
previous day, Doctor Joe and the boys spread out on the left, or
westward, side of the brook. Now, however, they were much closer
together, because they could see so short a distance through the snow.
Walking was much harder, and their progress correspondingly slower.

Thus they continued to the farthest point reached before turning back
the previous day, David or Doctor Joe now and again firing shots from
their rifles. Then they turned back, making the return just to the
westward of the trail made by Doctor Joe, who was on the left flank as
they passed up the broo