"A man might have gone a quarter of a mile, but he couldn't go a whole mile." "He hasn't been out to-day, at any rate," declared Dick.

"There isn't a trace of a track anywhere near the shack." "Let's dig up to that window and look in," suggested Dave.
This was done.

A few minutes later the three boys stood at the window, glancing in at all they could see of the small interior.

Beyond the stove and chairs there appeared to be nothing to see.
"Well, our dear friend Fits isn't on the premises--that's certain," remarked Dave Darrin.
Which conclusion might be true, or, again, might not..