An hour after noon
Micmac John increased his pace for the trail would soon be hidden and he was not quite sure when he should find the camp . From the lakes the trail turned directly north and for several miles ran through a flat , wooded country . After a while there were wide open marshes , with narrow timbered strips between . An hour after noon he crossed a two mile stretch of this marsh and in a little clump of trees on the farther side of it came so suddenly upon the tent that he almost ran against it . The snow was by this time falling thickly and a rising westerly wind was sweeping the marsh making travelling exceedingly difficult , and completely hiding the trail beyond the trees . The tent flaps were fastened on the outside , and Bob was away , as Micmac John expected he would be , searching for caribou . `` There 's no use tryin ' t ' foller him in this snow , '' said he to himself , `` I 'd be sure t ' miss him .