Slone made certain that Wildfire was so keen that as he grazed along he had kept to open ground.
Wildfire had run for a mile, then slowed down to a trot, and he had circled to get back to the trail he had left.

Slone believed the horse was just so intelligent.

At any rate, Wildfire struck the trail again, and turned at right angles to follow it.
Here the forest floor appeared perfectly level.

Patches of snow became frequent, and larger as Slone went on.

At length the patches closed up, and soon extended as far as he could see.