m their
faces, their hands and feet almost numb. The snow in the open was
already as high as the horses' knees. There was no wind, only that
silent sweeping of the heavens. In the depths the high branches of the
redwoods groaned ominously under the stiffening weight, like giants in
pain.

The forest thinned. The snow had its will of the earth. There was no
refuge under the larger trees that still stood, like outposts, here and
there; the branches were too high above. Once Adan suggested through
his stiff lips and unruly teeth that they turn back and take refuge in
some dense grove above; but Roldan shook his head peremptorily. He had
heard of the fearful storms of the Sierras; they lasted for days, and
the snow stood its ground for weeks. Their only hope was the valley.

But they descended only to rise again: in the white darkness of the
storm they dared not attempt to skirt the base of the peaks; they must
keep straight on, to the west, for there lay the valley.

Occasionally, where a grove of trees stood close and the snow lay
shallow, the boys got off and wrestled, rousing the blood in their legs
and arms; then urged their mustangs to greater speed. But the poor
brutes were very weary, and the blood in their veins was almost torpid.
Once they stood still and shook, whinnying pitifully. A huge grizzly,
so powdered as to be hardly distinguishable from the drifts about him,
floundered along to the right. The boys crossed themselves and awaited
their fate, with the apathy of numb and despairing brains; but the
monster was evidently aiming for the warmth of his home, and took no
notice of the meal in four courses standing in the middle of the path.

The night deepened. The snow thickened and sped down with an audible
rush, a sting in each beautiful white bee. The boys nodded, roused
themselves, fell forward, their arms mechanically stiffening about the
horses' necks. Once they flung out their hands and feet with a
smothered shriek. A tongue of flame seemed to leap down their throats
and hiss through their veins, while the world roared and heaved about
them. Then all sensation was over.

XIII

Roldan opened his eyes. His brain was heavy; he was conscious only of
an intense warmth. His arms appeared to be bound to his sides, his
whole body in a vise. He kicked out with a vigorous return of the
instinct of independence. The action shook his brain free and he
understood: he was tightly wrapped in a blanket, and the