That where he found danger, the children might have found safety; and always before him that track of the scabbard-sledge showed him that so far, at any rate, all had gone well.
And then, as he turned a sharp curve in the shallow, snow-covered valley, he saw a little below him something that made him turn sick with fear.

It was the sledge, empty, deserted! A second glance, however, showed him that it was not overset.

Those who had been in it must have left it of their own accord; and the cause of this was soon made clear.
Within a few yards the snow ended and a rocky descent began, down which the sledge could not have gone.

So either Tumbu or the children had been wise; and they were still in front of him, but how far off who could tell?
The sun was already high, hours must have passed since he first started in chase; but now that they were on foot there was some chance of overtaking them before anything dreadful happened.
In his hurry Roy almost flung himself from rock to rock down the descent; but he had to pause to take off his fur coat, for in this sheltered spot the sun beat shadelessly, the snow melted as he passed, the stones ran with moisture, and in the crannies of the rocks young green things were everywhere starting into growth.

The past storm of bitter cold had ended winter; spring had begun.