w until we get back," James, the younger of the
brothers, remarked.

"I don't know," Dick answered, looking at the clouds. "I should not be
surprised if it began at any moment."

The wind was blowing strongly. The hills were high and steep, and,
although the boys made their best speed, it was considerably over an
hour before they reached the farm. They had started at two, and it was
now a quarter past three. Mr Jackson was out. The boys delivered the
message with which they had been charged to their aunt.

"Now," she said, "I will cut you each a hunch of cake, and when you have
eaten that and had a glass of fresh milk you had best start at once. It
is bitterly cold, and we are going to have snow: The sooner you are
home, the better."

The boys now ate their cake. Mrs Jackson came to the door with them.
Then she said, as the first flake of snow fell--

"I am not sure, boys, that you had not better stay here all night."

The boys laughed.

"Why, what would they say at home? They would just be in a way about
us."

"Well, at any rate, you had better go by the road."

"Oh, that is two miles farther at least. We should not get home until
long after dark. We shan't be an hour by the hills. We know every foot
of the way."

"Well, good-bye, then. Make as much haste as you can."

For half a mile their way led along the road, then they scrambled over a
wall and began to ascend the barren hill-side. The snow was falling
fast now. Thicker and thicker it came down, and when, hot and panting,
they reached the top of the hill, the wind blew the flakes so fiercely
into their faces that they were half-blinded, and were obliged to turn
their backs to the gale while they got breath. For half an hour they
struggled on. They could scarcely see ten paces before them through the
driving snow, and in every sheltered spot white patches rapidly began to
form.

"How different things look in a snow-storm!" Dick said, as they stopped
for breath and shelter under the lee of a wall. "I don't know, Tom, but
I am not quite sure that we are going straight; I do not know what wall
this is."

"No more do I," Tom Jackson replied. "I felt quite sure that we were
going right at first, but somehow I don't think so now."

"I wish the snow would stop for a minute," Dick said, "just to let us
have a look round. If I could see a hundred yards I am sure I should
know where we are. What is the matter with you, James; what are y