“I’m willing.”
The trail led into the very depths of the great forest, and to help them from getting lost they broke off the bushes here and there, thus “blazing” the trail as they proceeded. In the open spaces the wind had drifted the snow quite a little, but where the trail led the walking proved fairly easy.
“The animal certainly traveled a good distance,” remarked Dave, after almost a mile had been covered.
“We are coming to the end now,” answered Henry, whose keen eyes took in every detail of the trail.
“How do you know that?”
“Don’t you see how the dips increase? That shows the load was growing heavier. The steps are shorter too.”
“Henry, it’s wonderful how you notice such things!”
“Not at all. I only keep my eyes open, that’s all. Now we had better keep quiet, or we may scare the game away.”
After that they proceeded a short distance further. Then they reached a clearing, where the heavy wind of the summer previous had cut down several of the tallest trees.
“There must have been a whirlwind here,” whispered Dave.