"Late in getting back?" repeated Frank. "I shall count myself lucky if we don't have remain here all night."
"Great Caesar, Frank, do you mean that?" came from Sam.
"I do. Here we have been tramping I don't know how long, and we seem to be as far from shore as ever."
"Exactly so," grumbled Hans. "I dink ve must pe moving around in a ring, hey?"
"Can that be possible?" asked Tom.
"I don't think so," answered Dick, "for I have been watching the ice very closely and I haven't seen the first sign of our doubling our steps."
"Let us keep out in a straight line," said Tom. "That will keep us away from the circle business."
Once more they pushed on, but the snow was now several inches deep, and the ice very slippery and all of the party could scarcely drag one foot after the other. It was Sam who called another halt.
"I'm getting winded!" he panted. "Boys, I guess we are lost in the snow."
"That's true, Sam," said Frank. "The shore seems to be as far off as ever."