Jo and the boys were just starting out from Plumfield to resume their search for Nick when they saw a small group headed in their direction from the woods. Jo ran almost frantically toward them, speeding up when she saw that Nick was one of the party. Dan and Emil were on either side of him, supporting him under the arms, but he pulled free and hugged Jo tightly as she threw her arms around him. Stepping back, the two young men looked at each other, amused. After a second, Jo seemed to realize what she was doing and she stepped back, looking none of them in the face.

"It's good to see you're safe, Nick." She said briskly, brushing at her skirt. By that time, the rest of the children had gathered around and Franz and Nat gladly relieved Dan and Emil of their burden, practically carrying him to the house while the others followed. Dan and Emil turned to go as well, but Jo held them back.

"What about Joe?" she asked.

The boys looked at each other and shrugged.

"We ran into him in this old shack. We made him help us find Nick, then he just disappeared." Dan said.

Jo's brow pursed. "So you don't know where he is?"

Emil shook his head. "No, he just left and we were too busy with Nick to find him."

Jo looked toward the woods. Was the boy alright? "We have to find him." she said, facing the boys with determination. They looked at each other skeptically. "He may be hurt, or frozen out there." she pressured. Dan looked annoyed, but said with a sigh,

"Okay, fine. Where should we start."

Looking at the two boys, Jo realized that they were both probably as tired, cold and hungry as she was. "I'll go, you boys go and get something to eat."

Emil started forward, ready to head back to the house, but Dan hung back. "I'll go with you."

Jo shook her head. "No, you should go back-"

Dan cut her off. "You don't even know what part of the woods to look in! And, you're in the same shape I am. No one should go off into the woods on their own feeling like that."

Jo was going to protest once more, but, looking into Dan's brown eyes, as determined as her own, she sighed and conceded. "Alright, we'll both go."

Dan nodded, grinning that he had won.

Emil had halted to hear the conversation and now said, "I'll get you two some coffee and biscuits to take along. Joe probably isn't going to be in the best of shape."

The pair nodded, and as soon as Emil brought the items, along with a blanket and dry coat for Jo, they headed off into the woods.

Dan led Jo to the part of the woods where he and Emil had last seen Joe. There were no footprints, due to the snow and no sign of life anywhere. After looking around soundlessly for a moment, Dan lifted his voice in a loud call, "ETHAAAAAN!! JOOOOOEEEE!" There was no reply, only a bird screeching as it passed over the still, white landscape.

The two searched the area around for any clue as to where Joe may have headed. It was deep in the woods, and it was not likely that Joe would have gone back toward Plumfield. All other three directions led to still more woods, with no towns or homes for several miles. It was very likely that he was lost somewhere.

After finding nothing, Jo and Dan met back in the spot they had started. Looking around, Jo said, "I have no idea where he would have gone." Dan nodded and the two were silent. Then, to Jo's surprise, Dan knelt down in the snow and pulled his cap off. Head bent, he sat quietly for several seconds, then rose to his feet. Looking around, he pointed toward the southwest. "Let's look that way." Then, noticing Jo staring at him, he looked a little embarrassed.

"I figured praying wouldn't hurt." he said quietly. "And I think that's the way we'll find him." he said again, indicating the southwest.

Knodding, Jo followed as he led the way.

Back at Plumfield, Asia, Nan and Bess fussed around Emil, Jack, Franz, and Nick. The rest of the boys hung around, listening as the four related what had happened the last night.

"So, what happened to Joe?" asked Nan.

Emil told her what he had told Jo and the group agreed that Dan and Emil had acted appropriately in letting him go to take care of Nick.

"I can't believe you let them go out again." Nick said, for what had to be the tenth time after a period of silence. He seemed to be recovering very well from his cold and exposure as he sat before the open stove, sipping hot coffee and wrapped in several blankets.

"Would you like to try to stop her?" asked Asia, rubbing his feet in a bowl of cold water.

"But at least she could have sent some of the other boys." He said, chafing that he was not able to go out himself.

Several of the boys agreed, and wanted to start out after them, but Asia, knowing Jo wouldn't necessarily care for that plan of action, persuaded them to wait at least until after lunch.

Jo and Dan walked for nearly an hour before they noticed a lump on the ground, covered in snow. They had the same thought and hurried over. Brushing away the snow, they found a small shelter of pine branches, and inside, with white face, was Joe, with his eyes closed and seemingly lifeless.

Patting his cheek, Dan tried to revive him, "Joe, Joe, wake up."

Joe didn't respond and Dan took his pulse as Jo moved the branches out of the way and squatted at his side.

"He's still alive, but his pulse is really slow." Dan said, looking to her for wisdom. Jo nodded, "Let's see if we can get some coffee in him." she said, her eyes never leaving Joe's face. Dan fetched the coffee and the blankets and together, after wrapping him up, they managed to get some of the hot liquid into Joe's mouth. He seemed to revive, and several minutes later, opened his eyes, coughing weakly.

Seeing Dan and Jo, it took him a moment, then he recognized them and a look of fear entered his eyes.

"It's alright." Jo soothed, putting her hand on his arm. "Here, have some more coffee."

Joe took the coffee, his glance darting back and forth between the two helping him.

"Can you walk?" Jo asked, getting to her feet, now numb from kneeling for so long. Joe nodded and, with Dan's help, stood up, swaying and would have fallen except for Dan's supporting arm. His face, white as it was, went whiter and he looked like he was going to pass out as Dan touched his broken arm to keep him from falling, and Jo thought she saw blood on his shirt. Stepping closer, she pulled the blanket back. Joe's sleeve was covered in blood. Apparently, he had fallen and reopened his wound. A fresh flow came as he pulled his arm away and Jo and Dan looked at each other. They needed to get him back to Plumfield, quickly, he was in bad shape.