CHAPTER XVI.
ON THE TRAIL.
The boys were dumfounded by their loss. The theft was a most daring one, and must have been committed within the past few minutes.
“Somebody will wish he had stayed honest,” muttered Hamp, vengefully. “I’m glad we all have our guns.”
“There was only one thief,” declared Jerry. “Look! you can see the dim marks of his snowshoes. Here’s where he turned the sleds around.”
“And he’s taking them back the way they came,” added Brick. “In the same ruts, too. He must have hitched them together.”
“We’ll catch him,” said Hamp. “He can’t have much of a start. Come on, before it gets dark.”
The boys started eagerly along the trail, unmindful of the wealth of venison they were leaving behind.
At the end of half a mile they were not in sight of the thief. Jerry bent down and scanned the sled marks.