We must go out after them." Josey tried to dissuade Jonas from this plan; but Jonas said he must go, and that, as they had oxen with them, there would be no danger.

"First," said he, "we must throw off our load." So he and Josey went to work, and threw off the rafters, as fast as they could.

Jonas reserved four or five rafters, which he left upon the sled.
Then he turned the oxen in the direction from which the cry had come.
They continued to hear it at moderate intervals.
They descended gradually a short distance across the field, and then they came to the shore of the pond.

Here Jonas took off one of his rafters, and laid it upon the shore, with one end raised up out of the snow.
"What is that for ?" said Josey.
"To show us the way back to our road," said Jonas.

"I place it so that it points right back,--the way we came." "We can tell by our tracks," said Josey.
"No," said Jonas; "our tracks will all be covered up before we come back." Jonas then drove down upon the pond, guiding his oxen in the direction of the cry.