There was no wind, so the
journey toward Bear Pond was far from unpleasant. They moved slowly,
dragging the sled behind them, and searching to the right and the left
for some trace of the missing Rovers.
"I don't believe they came up here," said Dick after half the distance
to the pond had been covered, "I don't see the least trace of any human
being, although I've seen the footprints of several wild animals."
"The wind might have covered the tracks during the night," was John
Barrow's hopeful response.
"I'd rather lose the treasure, even if it is worth thousands, than have
anything happen to Sam and Tom."
Just before noon they came to a point in the river where it divided into
several branches.
"We'll stop here and put up another sign pole," said the guide.
"Remember what I said? All these streams run into the pond and into
Perch River. Now, which one you want, at tudder end, I don't know."
"Which is the largest branch?"
"Can't say, exactly. This one an' the one yonder are about the same
size, and that one aint much smaller.
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