“They’ve gone!” exclaimed Tom. “Now we are in a fix.”
“We’ll have to leave the deer and the sledge and hike it,” declared Jim. “Maybe these two dogs can lead us to the trail.”
It was their one chance and urging the dogs on, the boys started back over the trail of their sledge. But presently they were again at a loss. The rapidly falling snow had now covered the runner marks, the dogs seemed confused and ranged back and forth, and the boys grew more and more frightened. Then one of the dogs gave a glad yelp and with noses to the snow they strained at the leading thongs.
“It’s all right!” shouted Tom. “The dogs have picked up the trail!”
“Well, they’re going in exactly the opposite direction I think they should have gone,” declared Jim. “But I suppose they know.”
Over low hills and through valleys the dogs led the boys while the blizzard raged. To the frightened and nervous lads it seemed as if they had covered twice the distance they had come when the dogs barked loudly, sniffed the air and tugged harder than ever at the leash.
“Guess the others are near now!” panted Tom, striving to keep pace with the dogs. “They smell something.”
The next instant the dogs cringed back, the hair rose upon their necks and with tails drawn in they whimpered as if in fear.
“Gosh, I wonder what’s up now!” exclaimed Tom.