Snap and Shep followed the trail of the stolen sled to the end of Firefly Lake with ease. The track was clearly to be distinguished, and it pursued its course in almost a straight line.
"I hope we can follow it thus easily to the end," said the leader of the Gun Club. "I'd hate to lose it."
"Let us hurry as much as possible," returned the doctor's son. "We want to overtake the thief before night."
They did hurry, and at length came to the outlet of the lake. Before them was Rocky River, a hundred and more feet wide at this point and frozen over solidly.
"Hullo, he didn't go towards Fairview!" cried Snap, pointing to the track the sled had left. "He went the other way."
"He must have gone to Riverview, or else beyond," returned the doctor's son.
They passed the old icehouse where Kiddy Leech had met Ham Spink and his cronies and kept on steadily in the direction of Riverview. Then of a sudden Snap set up a shout.
"I see a man ahead—with a sled!"
"So do I! It must be the thief, Snap!"
"Perhaps, although I can't make out at this distance. I'll tell you what I'll do, Shep—put on the skates and skate on the clear ice. I'll soon catch him that way. You can follow on your snowshoes or take them off, if you'd rather."