Page:Cornelia Meigs-The Pirate of Jasper Peak.djvu/234

 it has been harder on you because it was your second try at starving. If we weren’t both of us so well fed now, I think we would quarrel.”

“It isn’t fair,” cried Dick jealously. “After all, you ought to stay here. Some one must milk Hulda and I don’t know how.”

“Nonsense,” returned Hugh rudely. “For myself, I never want to see milk again. Where is that extra revolver? Lend me your mittens, they are drier than mine.”

He strapped on the snowshoes, ordered Nicholas back in spite of the delighted preparations the dog was making to join the expedition, bade  Dick a sympathizing good-by and turned his face  stoutly toward Jasper Peak. The dry, stinging cold was so intense as almost to take his breath  away, but he was growing a little more used to it  at last. The big snowshoes seemed awkward at first; he soon fell into the proper swing, however,  and made good speed down the hill to the edge of  the stream. The brook itself had disappeared completely under snow which was so soft that  here he sank and floundered in spite of the