It had now begun to snow more thickly than ever.
"Which way did they take ?" questioned Sam, in perplexity.
"Reckon they went this way, Sam." "It looks to me as if they went the other way.

Here are some footprints." "Here are some footprints, too." They came to a standstill, more perplexed than ever.

Sure enough, there were two sets of footprints, running almost at right angles to each other.
"I guess we've hit somebody else's trail," said Sam.

"Dick! Mr.Barrow! Where are you ?" he called out.
No answer came back, and then the two boys shouted in chorus.

All remained as silent as before.
"Well, this is a mess, to say the least," was Tom's comment.