CHAPTER XV

THE BATTLE IN THE SNOW


It was a fact that Ruth was tempted to run back to the house, just
as fast as she could go, and from there send Reno out to find his
young master. Whether the dog could have traced Tom on the ice,
however, is a question, for Ruth did not yield to this cowardly
suggestion. She had come out with the gun to find the boys, and her
hesitation at the edge of the pond was only momentary.

She started down the pond toward the stream, seeing the scratches of
the boys' skates leading in that direction. There could be no doubt
as to where they had gone. Ruth only wished that she had brought her
skates when she ran so hastily from Snow Camp.

Not a sound reached her ears, save the sharp twitter of a sparrow
now and then, the patter of Reno's feet on the ice, and the rattle of
the loaded rifle against the buttons of her sweater-coat. The forest
that surrounded the pond seemed uninhabited. The axes of the woodsmen
did not echo here, and the boys must indeed be a great way off, for
she could distinguish no sound whatever from them.

Yet she had no doubt that she was following their trail--not even
when she came down to the outlet of the pond. The strokes of the
skates upon the ice were still visible. The three boys had certainly