CHAPTER XXIII.
THE COTTAGE IN THE WOODS.
To make sure that he was not mistaken, Harry continued to search in the vicinity of the spot, and presently he discovered the tracks of the sled through a tiny drift of snow on one side of the creek, twenty feet farther on.
Without hesitation he fired his gun, and, loading hastily, fired a second shot. Then he sat down impatiently to await the arrival of the others.
Jack might have joined him in a few minutes, but he wisely waited at the mouth of the creek for Andy, Boxy and Pickles, that they might not go astray along the shore.
Soon the four boys hove in sight, all eager to learn what he had discovered.
The top of the coffee pot was exhibited, and Harry’s story told, and then, with their hopes revived, they started up the creek, eager to trace the trail to its end.
It was not long before the creek began to narrow, and here the ice was covered with snow, through which it was easy to follow the tracks.
“Here’s where they left the creek,” said Harry, ten minutes later. “See, they moved off directly through the woods.”
“But it’s a roundabout course,” observed Jack, “and that proves that it was new ground for them to cover.”
Presently they came to a deep ravine, and saw that the marauders had walked along this in both directions, looking for a place to cross. Being unable to find it, they had continued along the ravine until its upper end was reached, and then struck out through the thick woods between two hills.