d and shelter in a few days, but they
recognized no landmarks, and with the approach of evening the frost
grew very keen. The haze drew in closer, the scattered pines they
passed wailed drearily in a rising wind, and the men were tired, but
they could see no suitable camping place and held on, looking for
thicker timber.

It was getting dark when a belt of trees stretched across the valley,
and they were thinking of stopping, when Benson, who led the way, cried
out.

"What is it?" Harding asked.

Benson hesitated. "Well," he said, "the thing doesn't seem probable,
but I believe I saw a light. Anyway, it's gone."

They stopped, gazing eagerly into the gloom. A light meant that there
were men not far off, and after the grim desolation they had travelled
through all were conscious of a longing for human society. Besides,
the strangers would, no doubt, have something to eat and might be
cooking a plentiful supper. There was, however, nothing to be seen
until Blake moved a few yards to one side. Then he turned to Benson
with a cheerful laugh.

"You were right; I can see a glimmer about a mile ahead. I wonder who
the fellows are, though that's not important."

They set off as fast as they could go, though travelling among the
fallen branches and slanting trees was difficult in the dark. Now and
then they lost their beacon, but the brightening glow shone out again
and when it was visible Blake watched it with surprise. It was low,
and he thought hardly large enough for a fire, besides which it had a
curious irregular flicker. Drawing nearer, they dipped into a hollow
where they could only distinguish a faint brightness beyond the rising
ground ahead which they eagerly ascended. Reaching the summit, they
saw the light plainly, but it was very small, and there were no figures
outlined against it. Benson shouted, and all three felt a shock of
disappointment when he got no answer.

He ran as fast as his snowshoes would let him, smashing through brush,
floundering over snowy stones, with Blake and Harding stumbling, short
of breath, behind; and then stopped with a hoarse cry close to the
light. There was nobody about, and the blaze sprang up mysteriously
from the frozen ground.

"A blower of natural gas," said Harding in an excited tone. "In a
sense, we've had our run for nothing, but this may be worth a good deal
more than your supper."

"If I had the option, I'd trade all the natural gas in Canada for a