Chapter 16 and 17

In chapter seventeen a storm begins. It brings with it a tone of danger and urgency which Billy must contend with. A windy sleet storm brews as the dogs trail their second coon. In the harsh conditions, the men lose track of the dogs. The men want to return to camp, but Billy wants to find his dogs; he knows that Old Dan would sooner freeze to death than give up a chase and return to camp. The others decide to follow Billy.