sides, where the greater part of the way had
been one constant climb over the rock-burdened bed of the stream, whose
sources were somewhere in the icy region, apparently as far away as when
they started on their journey.

They had halted in a narrow amphitheatre of rocks, on one side of which
lay a shelf dotted with dwarf pines, thick, sturdy, and old, many having
shed their last needles years before, and displaying nothing now but
thin bare trunks and a few jagged, weather-worn boughs. Snow had fallen
heavily in the mountains during the previous night, and the side of the
amphitheatre at the back of the shelf to which they had dragged the
sledge was glazed with ice, where the snow above had melted in the warm
mid-day rays, and _frozen_ again and again.

It was bitter winter all around as the short day began to close in; but
there was plenty of wood, and they felt if they climbed higher next day
it would be into the region of wiry heaths and moss.

Quite instinctively, axe in hand, each of the weary three made for the
dead wood and began to cut and break down the brittle boughs.

"Ay, that's right, my sons," said Tregelly, with the ghost of a smile;
"let's have a good fire if it is to be the last."

The smile was reflected in Dallas's face, and he nodded; but he did not
speak--only went on hacking away in a mechanical fashion, and the small
wood was heaped-up against the icy wall at the back of the broad shelf.
Then a match was struck and sheltered till the smallest twigs caught;
these communicated with the larger, and in a very short time there was a
roaring fire, whose heat was reflected from the glazed surface of the
rock, making the snow melt all around and run off till there was dry
bare rock, on one piece of which, full in the warm glow, Scruff
curled-up and went to sleep.

Outside the snow lay deep and high, as it had been drifted in the heavy
fall, forming a good shelter from the wind; and by a liberal use of
their axes the dwarf firs that they cut down proved a good shelter when
laid in a curve on the other side, while when no longer wanted for that
purpose they would be free from the clinging snow and more fit to burn.

Roof there was none save the frosty sky, spangled with myriads of stars;
but the weary party paid no heed to that want. There was the fire, and
in due time the tin of hot tea to pass round, and the roughly made
bread. They seemed to want no more, only to lie down and rest in the
warm