For the trail Lad was following led out of the grounds and across the highway, toward the forest.
The newborn snowstorm was developing into a very promising little blizzard.

And the icy lash of the wind proved the fallacy of the old theory, "too cold to snow." Even by daylight it would have been no light task to steer a true course through the whirling and blinding storm.

In the darkness, the man found himself stumbling along with drunkenly zigzag steps; his buffeted ears strained, through the noise of the wind for sound of Lad's bark.
But no such sound came to him.

And, he realized that snow and adverse winds can sometimes muffle even the penetrating bark of a collie.

The man grew frightened.