"That's right!" shouted Dan Baxter. "Make them both prisoners! I've got a big score to settle with them!" And then all four fell upon Sam and Tom, and a fierce struggle ensued, the outcome of which was for some time hard to predict. CHAPTER XIX. DICK AND THE WILDCAT. "Well, it's mighty funny Tom and Sam don't come up." It was Dick who spoke. He stood in the shelter of a number of walnut trees, and close at hand was John Barrow. The pair had missed the others ten minutes before, and were now waiting impatiently for their reappearance. "It can't be as how they missed the trail in this snow," said John Barrow soberly. "Let us shout for 'em." They set up a shout, and waited impatiently for an answer. But none came, and they called again. "We had better go back for them," said Dick, his face full of a troubled look. "I wouldn't have them get lost in this snowstorm for the world." It was decided to leave the sled where it was, and soon they were hurrying along the back trail. But the snow and wind were against them, and they made slow progress. "It will not be necessary to relate all the particulars of the next three hours. In vain they looked for Tom and Sam. Not a trace of the missing lads could be discovered. "This the worst yet!" groaned Dick, as he came to a halt, all out of breath. "I thought, all along, that they were keeping close behind us!" "I told them to do so," returned the guide. They had fired several shots, but the reports had failed, as we know, to reach the ears of the missing Rovers. They were now at their wits' end regarding what to do next. "I'd give a hundred dollars rather than have this happen," went on Dick. "Why, they'll starve to death if they really get lost!" "Oh, aint you mistaken there, Dick? They have the other sled, remember; and each o' 'em has a gun for to bring down any game as is wanted." "That's true, and it's one comfort. But there is no telling when they reach civilization again. Why, this forest is about as bad as some places in the far West." "I believe you there, lad. Well, they've got to make the best o' it. I reckon they'll strike out for the river and come up that to Bear Pond, over the rocks an' rapids an' all." Supper time found the pair on the river again, four miles below Bear Pond. It was decided that they should camp at that spot for the night. "We'll build a big camp-fire and keep it a-going," said Dick. "Perhaps they will see it." "That's an idee," returned John Barrow, and before doing anything else the camp-fire was started, in an open spot along the river bank. Dick saw to it that it blazed up merrily, and kept piling on all the dry brushwood he could find, until the flames shot up fully twenty feet into the air, making the surroundings as bright as day. For supper they cooked another of the wild turkeys, but it must be confessed that Dick had little appetite for eating. John Barrow noticed it, and he did his best to cheer up the youth.