returned the merchant. "Let us hope we will find them all safely."

In fifteen minutes the whole party started from the lodge on
snowshoes, the boys dragging their toboggans and the men carrying
food and hot coffee in vacuum bottles. They separated into four
parties; the three boys and Jerry Todd kept together. Jerry believed
that the girls would have drifted some with the storm and therefore
he struck off due east from the house.

In an hour they came back to the bank of the stream near where Ruth
and Reno had their adventure with the panther.

"If old Reno had been well enough to come with us, he would have
scented them in a hurry," declared Tom. "See the creek! it's
completely smothered in snow."

They followed the course of the stream for some distance and found
the banks growing more steep. Suddenly Jerry began to sniff the keen
air, and in a moment he cried:

"There's a fire near, boys. Somebody is burning pine boughs--and
there isn't any house near, that I can swear to!"

They hurried on. Inside of half a mile Isadore descried a column of
blue smoke ahead. They began to shout at once, and it was not long
before answering cries delighted them.

"That's Madge yelling," declared Bob. "I'd know her warwhoop
anywhere."