'Twill take me the right direction whatever." Levelling the compass carefully in his hand so that the needle swung freely he found the east, and as rapidly as his little legs would carry him set out again in his effort to escape the two sleeping men and to find camp and his friends.
At intervals he stopped to consult his compass.

Then he would hurry forward again as fast as ever he could go through the snow, looking behind him fearfully, half expecting each time to see the men in close pursuit, and always with the dread that a gruff voice in the rear would command him to halt, or that a rifle bullet would be sent after him without warning.
As time passed and there was no indication that he was followed, Jamie began to feel some degree of security.

Because of the storm it was unlikely that the men would venture upon the Bay.

They had kept late hours drinking at the bottle, and unless they were awakened by the cold they would in all probability sleep late and therefore not discover his absence until the thickly falling snow had so far covered his trail as to preclude the possibility of them following it with certainty.
With his mind more or less relieved on this point, Jamie suddenly realized that he was hungry.

It was nearing midday.