"Don't ask me! It looks as if we were lost."
"Hark! I heard a shot!" cried Fred, a minute later, while the pair were looking around trying to make up their minds in what direction to proceed next. "Maybe those are our fellows shooting."
The shot had come from their right, and was presently followed by another. Thinking their friends might be close at hand, the Rovers started off as well as they could through the brushwood and between the trees. But then they came to some rough ground covered with rocks, and here further progress was all but impossible. In the meanwhile, no further reports had reached their ears.
"We are sure up against it," remarked Jack, after he and his cousin had looked at each other rather helplessly. It was darker than ever, and the snow still continued to sift down through the trees.
"Maybe we'll have to stay out here all night," said Fred, after consulting his watch. "It's half past five now."
"We ought to be on the way back to the Hall if we expect any supper," replied his cousin.
Being unable to advance further in that direction, the Rover boys sought to retrace their steps, and after considerable trouble managed to return to the sheet of water they had left a while before. But by this time the darkness of night had fallen.
"It's no use!" cried Fred, helplessly. "We're lost, that's all there is to it!"
"It was bad enough while it was daylight, Fred. I really don't know what we are going to do now it's dark," answered Jack, seriously.
On the return to the little pond Fred had stumbled over some tree roots, and this had lamed him a little.