"And it was all my fault!" broke out Shadow, bitterly. "Oh, I could kick myself full of holes every time I think of it!"
Over an hour had been spent in the woods surrounding the clearing on Mirror Lake. During that time the men and the boys had stirred up several small wild animals, but that had been all.
"He must have legged it for all he was worth after he jumped through the window," was Roger's comment. "For all we know he may be miles away from here by now."
"If he ran straight into those woods it was a hazardous proceeding," said Dunston Porter. "He'll become hopelessly lost in the darkness, and when daylight comes he won't know how to turn to get out."
"Oh, perhaps he'll climb a tree and locate his surroundings that way," suggested Dave. "You must remember that Link isn't like a city fellow. He was brought up in the wild West, and knows how to do for himself in the open."
"We may as well give up the hunt," said Mr. Wadsworth, and turned toward Bear Camp, followed by the others.
"Oh, Dave, did you catch him?" The cry came from Jessie, who stood on the porch with the others, awaiting their return.
"No, he got away."
"That's too bad!"
"You should have kept him bound, Dave," said Laura.