Page:Lost with Lieutenant Pike (1919).djvu/165

 for it now, and get back to camp and our supplies before dark."

He struck out and upward; in single file they followed, trudging through the brittle snow, and weaving among the pines. The final white ridge which their eyes had been marking during most of yesterday loomed large and plain above

The snow gradually deepened. Its surface bore not a trace of foot or paw or hoof. Soon it was to their knees, soon thigh high; but they were out from the trees and upon the bald space which formed the top.

Only a few more steps, now, through snow waist high, with rocks and gravel underfoot. Whew! Now for it! Hooray! The lieutenant was there first, to halt, and gaze about.

"Is that it, lieutenant?" puffed the doctor, anxiously.

Terry Miller huskily cheered, stumbled, but forged ahead.

The lieutenant stood, fixedly peering beyond.

"What!" uttered the doctor, arrived.

"It's the wrong peak, men," quietly said the lieutenant, his voice flat in the thin air. "Yes, the wrong peak."

The others floundered to him and the doctor, to gaze also. They all leaned heavily upon their guns.