ringing up the other
foot, he stepped forward, and it crushed through the hardening surface,
but only for a few inches. The next step was on the rugged surface of
slippery ice, and as they progressed slowly for about a hundred yards,
it was to find the surface grow firmer and less disposed to give beneath
their weight.

"There's one difficulty mastered," said Bracy cheerily. "The surface is
freezing hard, and we can get on like this till the sun beats upon it
again."

"I call it grand, sir; but I hope it won't get to be more uphill."

"Why?"

"Because if we makes one slip we shall go skating down to the bottom of
the slope again in double-quick time. I feel a'ready as if I ought to
go to the blacksmith's to get roughed."

"Stamp your feet down if you are disposed to slip, my lad. I do not
want to do this, but if the slope grows steeper we must fix bayonets and
use them to steady us."

"Take the edge off on 'em, sir."

"Yes; but we must get across the ridge. Forward."

They toiled on, the task growing heavier as they progressed, for the
gradient became steeper, and they halted from time to time for a rest,
the plan of using the bayonets being kept for a last resource. But
there were compensations to make up for the severity of the toil, one of
which was expressed by the travellers at one of the halts.

"Makes one feel jolly comf'table and warm, sir."

"Yes; and takes away all doubt of our going in the right direction, for
we must be right."

"I didn't think we was at first, sir. 'Tain't so dark neither."

"No: we are getting higher, and the snow and ice are all round us. Now
then, forward!"

Crunch, squeak, crunch went the snow as they tramped steadily, with the
surface curving slowly upward, till all at once there was a slip, a
thud, and a scramble, Gedge was down, and he began to glide, but checked
himself with the butt of his rifle.

"I'm all right, sir; but I was on the go," he said, panting.

"Hurt?" replied Bracy laconically.

"Not a bit, six. Knocked some o' the wind out o' me, but I'm all right
again now."

"Forward!"

Bracy led on again, to find that the curve made by the snowfield rose
more and more steeply, and the inclination to slip increased. But he
stamped his feet down as he kept on, with his breathing growing quicker,
and had the satisfaction of hearing his follower imitate his example,
till he began to find that he must soon make another halt.

His spirits were rising