It was rough work, and the ice was often covered too deep with snow to make skating a pleasure.
"It seems to me the river is getting narrower than ever," said Sam.
"It's queer, too, for Mr.Barrow said it was quite broad near the lake." "He said one of the branches was broad, Sam.

We must be on a different branch." "Let us call to them again." Once more they cried out, at the top of their lungs.

But nothing answered them, not even a muffled echo.

All was swallowed up in the loneliness of the situation and in the fast falling snow, which now covered even the load on the sled to the depth of an inch or more.
"Come on," said Sam half desperately.

"We must catch up to them, sooner or later." "Perhaps we are ahead of them." "It isn't likely.