No snow was falling, but the earth was white with the thin coating that had filtered down hours before.
"Had it come earlier in the day," he thought, "it would help us to trace her, but now it will hide her footprints." Hardly a score of steps from the creek his foot struck something soft, and he stooped down.

Straightening up, he held a small hood in his hand, such as children wear in cold weather.

Faint as was the light, he recognized it as Dollie's; he had seen her wear it many times.
"What can it mean ?" he asked himself; "I must have stepped over or on that on my way down, but did not notice it.

Yes, Dollie is on this side the stream, but where ?" Aye, that was the question.

Once more he raised his voice and shouted with might and main, but as before no answer came back.
Harvey was now master of himself.