At 5:50 p.m., Haddock brings out the tracking dogs to recover Robert Stephens and the stolen photographs. Haddock relies on Colonel, his best bloodhound, and gives Jasper and the other dog handlers the empty Vaseline jar Robert touched, recognizing that Robert tried to use the grease to confuse the dogs. Boone returns with guns, and Haddock arms the search party. When Crutcher and his sister arrive, Haddock deliberately intimidates them, gives Crutcher a rifle, and makes clear that anything moving can be shot.

Colonel quickly picks up Robert's trail beneath Haddock's window and leads the party away from the dormitory area. The dogs reach the shed, but Colonel refuses to go inside, showing that Robert only passed by it. A boot print confirms the trail, and Haddock realizes Robert tried to hide his tracks by stepping off the rutted path. As boys gather to watch from both sides of campus, Haddock treats the hunt as a public warning and imagines Robert's capture as a lesson to the others.

Colonel then bypasses the Funhouse and continues toward the cornfield fence. There he discovers a loosened fence panel and squeezes through, proving that Robert got off campus and that someone likely helped him by cutting the fence. Haddock is shaken by the discovery and immediately changes the plan. He orders Boone to drive the dog boys and the other dogs around the fence to cover the field and the road, but refuses Boone's suggestion to involve the Hewitts or more outside help because Robert is carrying Haddock's "private belongings," the incriminating photographs Haddock wants hidden from everyone else.

Haddock takes Colonel and forces Crutcher to crawl under the fence with him, turning the chase into a private pursuit and a test of Crutcher's obedience. Haddock is cut by the metal as he goes through, but Colonel resumes the trail. Instead of heading south toward the road, Colonel leads north through the corn, and Haddock realizes Robert is likely aiming for the creek, hoping water will break the scent. While they follow the fresh trail, Haddock questions Crutcher about what he saw in the shed, senses Crutcher is lying, and warns him that hunts require silence and obedience. With Colonel pulling hard ahead, Haddock presses on toward Robert.