It was shadowy and slim at the distance, but he knew that it was a human being, and either it was Weber or some man of Chastel returning to see what had happened to his town.

In either event he wished to overtake him.
But the figure led him a long chase.

The man seemed to be moving with some definite purpose, and kept a general course toward the east.

Now John called out once or twice, though not loudly, but the stranger apparently did not hear him.

Then he pushed the pursuit more vigorously, breaking into a run, and just beyond the eastern rim of Chastel, feeling sure now that it was the Alsatian, he called once more: "Weber! Weber!" The man paused and he seemed to John to look back, but the snow drifted heavily between them just then, and when the cataract had passed he was again moving on, more slender and dim than ever.