e's arm in one hand
and with a rifle in the other, followed in the trail of the man Hank,
dragging Jamie almost too fast for his legs to carry him.

On and on they went through the darkness. Now and again Jamie fell
over stumps or other obstructions, and each time the man, with a
curse, jerked him to his feet.

Snow was falling heavily and the wind was rising. Once they crossed a
frozen marsh where the snow swirled around them in clouds. Then they
were again among the forest trees, forging ahead in silence save for
an occasional curse by the man who held Jamie in his merciless and
relentless grip.

CHAPTER XV

MISSING!

Seth Muggs, intent upon keeping pace with Andy on his right, and not
permitting him to get out of sight, quite neglected to be equally
cautious as to Jamie on his left. In this Seth was in no wise
neglectful. The responsibility in each case, in order to keep the line
from breaking, was to keep the neighbour nearer the brook in view. In
this Jamie alone had failed.

Jamie had, indeed, been out of line for a considerable time before
Seth became aware of the fact. Even then he felt no concern. Doctor
Joe had instructed Jamie to return to camp if he became weary, and
when he was missed had no doubt he had taken advantage of the
suggestion.

Nevertheless, when Doctor Joe passed the word along the line to
reassemble, Seth gave several lusty shouts for Jamie. When, after a
reasonable time, he received no reply, he was satisfied Jamie was snug
in camp with the kettle boiling for tea, and he turned down to join
the others at the brook.

"It's a little later than I thought," said Doctor Joe as they came
together, "but we'll have plenty of time to reach camp before dark.
Now let's count noses."

"Where's Jamie?" asked David. "We're all here but Jamie."

"I'm thinkin' he gets tired and goes back to camp like Doctor Joe were
sayin' for he to do," suggested Seth. "I missed he a while back."

"How long has it been since you saw him last, Seth?" asked Doctor Joe.

"I'm not rightly knowin', but a half-hour whatever," said Seth, "and
I'm thinkin' 'twere a bit longer."

"He has probably gone back to camp, then," agreed Doctor Joe. "It was
a pretty hard tramp for such a little fellow. It is quite natural that
he did not like to admit to you that he could not keep up with us, and
he just slipped quietly away and returned to camp and said nothing
about it. He couldn't well get lost with the brook so