"Yes, if there is no wind or snow in the night."
But in the night there was both wind and snow and on the morrow the woman's trail was quite obliterated and the snow on the lake made travelling impossible. Helen Yardely noted the fact without regret.
"There will be no exploring party today," she said, "so I will go and look at my rabbit snares."
"And I will accompany you," answered Stane, "the walk in the snow will help to take the stiffness out of my leg."
They set out together, but had gone but a little way when the girl gave a sharp "Hist!"
"What is it?" he asked quietly, thinking that she had seen game of some kind.
"There is a man in those bushes in front of us," she answered in a whisper.
"A man. Are you sure?"
"I am quite sure. I saw him slip across that open space there. He has a gun."
The bushes she had indicated were about three hundred yards away, and Stane examined them keenly. He could see nothing, however, and at the conclusion of his scrutiny he said: "I will go forward. You remain here, Miss Yardely."