nd
inner sock will thus remain perfectly dry. The author has walked long
distances with this sort of foot-gear with the greatest comfort.
Perfect freedom for the foot and toes is, it must be repeated, most
essential.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

As the hut was close to the lake the skates were buckled on in the
warmth, and together the whole party issued forth, D'Arcy promising to
come across the next day in a sleigh he had built.

During the brief period they had spent in the hut the wind had changed,
and with it the weather. Thick clouds floated overhead low down,
lightish in colour though dense; the air was sensibly warmer. Philip
looking at his younger brother said, "Charley, I have a great mind to
leave you behind; it will be harder work than coming." But Charley
considered that his manliness was disparaged, and insisted on starting.
"Well, we may reach home before the snow falls," said Philip, shaking
D'Arcy's hand, and adding, "We shall all be glad to see you."

Away they went; but not two minutes had passed before snow-flakes began
to fall, a few only settling on their faces. They were the forerunners
of others; thicker and thicker they fell; now they rushed down
hurriedly, covering the surface of the lake with a white sheet. Did the
brothers hear D'Arcy's voice joined with Terry's shouting to them to
come back? They had, however, got so far on their way that, even had
they been certain of the fact, they would not have liked to do so. On
they at all events went. Philip kept his eyes fixed on his own hill,
but the outline soon became very dim. Thicker and thicker fell the
snow; still they were in their proper course, Philip thought.

"Can you make out the hill, Harry?" he asked.

"No, Phil; cannot you?" answered Harry: "what's to be done?"

"Push on, of course; the snow may stop falling, and we may see our way
again," said Philip.

The snow, however, did not stop falling, but rather came down thicker
and faster. Charley held out bravely, working on his way through the
snow. Skating was far greater labour than before. This should not have
been: hard snow would have easily been pushed aside; a part of this
melted as it fell. Philip did not express his fears to his brothers,
though he became very anxious. "What can we do?" he kept saying to
himself. "We must keep on; we may hit our home or some parts of the
shore which we know, and from which we may reach it either walking over
land, or by coasting