, and giving back the rays of
a brilliant sun in colors as vivid and varied as those of a rainbow.
Every tree and bush, to the last little twig, was sheathed also in silver,
and along the slopes the forests of dwarfed cedar and pines were a vast
field of delicate and complex tracery.

It was a glittering and beautiful world, but cold and merciless. Dick
saw at once that the whole force, captors and captured, was shut in for
the time. It was impossible for horses to advance over a field of ice,
and it was too difficult even for men to be considered seriously.
There was nothing to do but remain in the valley until circumstances
allowed them to move, and reflection told him they would not lose much
by it. They had done the errand on which they were sent, and there was
little work left in the great valley itself.

The big fires had been lighted again, the cove furnishing wood enough
for many days, and within its limited area they brought back glow and
cheeriness. Dick went outside and found all the men in high spirits.
They expected to be held there until a thaw came, but there would be no
difficulty, except to obtain forage for the horses, which they must dig
from under the snow, or which some of the surest footed mountaineers
must bring over the ridge. He heard that Colonel Winchester was already
making arrangements with Reed, and he was too light-hearted to bother
himself any more about it.

Warner and Pennington saluted him with bows as a coming captain, and
declared that he looked extremely interesting with a white bandage around
his head.

"It's merely to prevent bleeding," said Dick. "The bullet didn't really
hurt me, and it won't leave a scar under the hair."

"Then since you're not even an invalid," said Pennington, "come on and
take your bath. The boys have broken the ice for a long distance on the
creek and all of us early risers have gone there for a plunge, and a
short swim. It'll do you a world of good, Dick, but don't stay in too
long."

"Not over a half hour," said Warner.

"O, a quarter of an hour will be long enough," said Pennington, "but I'd
advise you to rub yourself down thoroughly, Dick."

"I'll do just as you did," laughed Dick.

"And what's that?"

"I'll go to the edge of the creek, look at it, and shiver when I see how
cold its waters are. Then I'll kneel down on the bank, bathe my face,
and come away."

"You've estimated him correctly, Dick," said Warner, "but you don't have