Page:Lost with Lieutenant Pike (1919).djvu/225

 *ing fast to the rocks. Ice glittered where the sun's faint rays struck.

This afternoon, having worked tremendously, they came out into the lieutenant's prairie. At least, it might have been the prairie he had reported—a wide flat or bottom where the hills fell back and let the river breathe.

"Hooray! Here's the place to ketch him," Freegift cheered. And he called: "See any sign o' them, Terry?"

"Nope."

They halted, to scan ahead. All the white expanse was lifeless.

"I swan!" sighed Terry. "Never a sign, the whole day; and now, not a sign here. You'd think this'd be the spot they'd come in at, and wait for a fellow or else leave him word."

"Yes," agreed Freegift, "I would that. Do you reckon they're behind us, mebbe?"

"How's a man to tell, in such a country?" Terry retorted. "They're likely tangled up, with half their hosses down, and the loads getting heavier and heavier. But where, who knows? We'll go on a piece, to finish out the day. We may find 'em lower on, or sign from 'em. If not, we'll have to camp again, and shiver out another night, with nothing to eat. Eh, Stub? At any rate, orders is orders, and we're