The snow was well beaten down by his heavy hunting-boots.

He had evidently tried to keep warm by walking up and down.

Then suddenly he must have remembered a little mud hut on the other side of the road, such as the road-menders build as a shelter against the rain.

He had gone down the ditch and crossed the road.

His trail, lost for a moment in the centre of the road, was visible on the snow at either side.