"It is quite a fresh track; there is sleet all round it. Last night,
about twelve, I came out to shut the doors; there was sleet falling then,
there is none upon the footsteps, therefore she has passed since."

"That is true enough, Sperver, but it may have been made much later; for
instance, at eight or nine."

"No, look, there is frost upon it! The fog that freezes on the snow only
comes at daybreak. The creature passed here after the sleet and before
the fog--that is, about three or four this morning."

I was astonished at Sperver's exactitude.

He rose from his knee, clapping his hands together to get rid of the
snow, and looking at me thoughtfully, as if speaking to himself, said--

"It is twelve, is it not, Fritz?"

"A quarter to twelve."

"Very well; then the old woman has got seven hours' start of us. We must
follow upon her trail step by step; on horseback we can do it in half the
time, and, if she is still going, about seven or eight to-night we have
got her, Fritz. Now then, we're off."

And we started afresh upon the track. It led us straight to the
mountains.

Galloping away, Sperver said--