“That is just what I say,” said Dave. “Those skate marks lead down the river and that is the way we want to go. By following them we’ll be getting nearer to the Hall and at the same time closer to the fellows who took our things.”
“We’ll never catch those fellows,” grumbled Ben. “They can skate five times as fast as we can walk.”
“Never mind, we’ll go after ’em anyway,” replied Gus. “And if we catch ’em——” He did not finish in words but brought his right fist down hard into his left palm, which left no doubt as to how he intended to treat the thieves.
“Maybe it’s a trick, of some of the Rockville cadets,” suggested Buster, when the crowd were on their way down the river.
“Say, don’t you remember my saying I thought I saw somebody near the camp, just before we went away?” burst out Ben. “You all thought I was mistaken.”
“Well, I reckon you were not mistaken,” answered Dave. “It’s a great pity we didn’t investigate more before leaving.”
“No use in crying over spilt milk,” said Sam.
“Which puts me in mind of a sto——” commenced Shadow, and then suddenly stopped talking and commenced to whistle to himself.
“Say, boys, if anybody should ask you, you can tell him it is snowing some,” puffed Buster, who was struggling to keep up with those in front. “If it wasn’t that we were on the river, it would be easy to lose our way.”
“That’s true,” replied Dave. “The snow seems to be coming down heavier every minute.”