e'll have a good runner in place of
the broken one, and then we can pile into two sleds and get into Elk
Lodge. We'll leave the last sled until to-morrow."

"But what about our baggage?" asked Miss Pennington. "That is in the
rear sled. Can we take that with us?"

"Not all of it," answered the hunter, "but you can crowd in as much as
possible. The rest can wait."

"I want _all_ of mine," declared the former vaudeville actress.

"So do I!" cried Miss Dixon.

"You'll be lucky if you get in out of this storm," said Mr. Pertell
reprovingly, "to say nothing about baggage. Do the best you can, Mr.
Macksey."

"I will. Come now, men, lively!"

It took some little time to make the change, but finally the work was
done.

The broken runner was cast aside, and there were now two good sleds,
one ahead of the other in the snowy defile. As much of the needed
baggage as possible was transferred, and the four horses that had been
on the rear sled were brought up and hitched to the remaining sleds--two
to each so that each conveyance now had six animals attached to it.

"And by hickory!" exclaimed Mr. Macksey, that appearing to be his
favorite expression, "By hickory, we'll need 'em all!"

They were now ready to set forth, and all rather dreaded going out into
the open again, for the defile offered a good shelter from the storm.
But it had to be done, for it was out of the question to stay there all
night.

"Go 'long!" called the hunter, as he shook the long reins of his six
horses, and cracked the whip with a report like a pistol. But the lash
did not fall on the backs of the ready animals. Mr. Macksey never beat
his horses--they were willing enough without that.

Lanterns had been lighted and hung on the sleds, to shed their warning
rays through the storm. They now gleamed fitfully through the
fast-falling snow.

"Are you feeling better now, Daddy?" asked Ruth of her father, as she
glanced anxiously at him.

"Much better, yes. I am afraid I ought to give you back your muffler,
Paul," he added.

"No indeed--please keep it," begged the young actor.

Alice reached beneath the blanket and pressed his hand in appreciation.

"Thanks," he laughed.

"It is I who thank you," she returned, softly.

They were now out in the open road, and the fury of the blast struck
them with all its cruel force.

"Keep covered up!" shouted Mr. Macksey, through the visor of his cap,
which was pulled down over his face. "We'll be there