"Are you sure he isn't there?" asked Mr. Martin, for well he knew how sorry the Curlytops would feel if anything happened to their goat.
"There isn't a sign of him," answered Uncle Frank. "You can come and look for yourselves."
"Maybe he's lying down asleep," suggested Teddy.
"I've looked all over," said Uncle Frank.
Teddy darted out of the barn, followed by Janet.
"Here! Come back!" cried their father. "You may get lost in the storm. It's snowing and the wind is blowing and it's hard to see where you're going, especially after dark."
"We want to see where Nicknack is," pleaded Teddy.
"Wait, and I'll go with you," his father remarked. "Perhaps he has burrowed down under the hay or straw to keep warm."
But when all four of them stood in front of Nicknack's little stable, which was too small for more than two to get in at a time, the Curlytops saw that their pet was not there. Uncle Frank flashed the lantern up high and down low, but no goat was to be seen.
"Where can he be?" asked Teddy, anxiously.