He had not seen him.

It had occurred shortly before his arrival, and at Margaret's suggestion he had turned directly about and returned to The Jug to fetch Doctor Joe to attend the injured man.
"My dogs is fagged," said Eli, "and 'twere slow comin' back." "David will take me over with his dogs.

They're fresh, and will travel faster," said Doctor Joe.
In ten minutes David was ready with the dogs harnessed, and the two teams drove away into the darkness and storm.
Andy and Jamie were greatly excited.

Tragedies enough happened up and down the coast when men were drowned or lost in the ice or met with fatal injuries.

But never before in the Bay had one man been cut down by the hand of another.