Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/196

190 All the party were rather pale, especially the girl. Rob was walking beside her, and helping her fight the great wind. Their breath was short, in this altitude, and hurrying was hard work. Moreover, the wind came in mighty, sudden gusts, which almost knocked the breath out of them and frequently made them stop and brace.

They had not gone a quarter of a mile when the clouds that came down Washington and those which streamed in from Oakes Gulf closed together, and the last of the party, who chanced to be Lou, suddenly found that he couldn't see anything, nor anybody.

His heart gave a great jump in his breast, and he let out a terrified cry, which was almost lost in the howl of the wind.

"Come on up!" he heard faintly. A second later, and he saw the forms of Peanut and Frank emerge from the mist ahead of him. The whole party now gathered close in behind Mr. Rogers, keeping only two feet apart, almost treading on each other's heels. The Scout Master stopped a second.

"Everybody watch for the cairns," he shouted, "and keep close together. Art and I have our compasses. Now, keep cool. We are only a short way from the hut. We'll go in there till the worst is over."

Then he moved on, slowly, making sure of the