Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/206

 running drawers, and they were trained for mountain climbing, into the bargain. And they had clear weather to the top. Whoever told you that you could make it ought to have a licking. Of course your family will worry, but you—and they—will have to stand it, as the price of your foolhardiness. We are not going out of this hut while the storm lasts, that's sure!"

Something in Mr. Rogers' stern tone seemed to brace the girl suddenly up. She stopped sobbing, and said, "Very well, I suppose there's nothing to do but wait."

Then she rose to her feet, and stamped around a bit on her lame ankle, to keep it from getting stiffened up too much, and to warm her blood, besides.

"I'd like to know what the thermometer is," said Frank. "Must be below freezing, that's sure."

Rob was looking out of the window. "I'm not so sure," he answered. "It has stopped snowing now. Say! I believe it's getting lighter!"

He opened the door and slipped out of the hut into the cloud. A moment later he came back.

"The north is surely breaking!" he cried. "This cloud bank hasn't got far over the range. The north wind has fought it back. While I was watching, the wind seemed to tear a kind of hole in the cloud, and I saw a bit of the valley for a second. Come on out and watch!"