For a few steps he walked, nimbly picking up his feet, and then, with
a canter of the best spring he could compass, hurled himself into the
depth of the drift, while Jordas lay flat along his neck, and let him
plunge. For a few yards the light snow flew before him, like froth of
the sea before a broad-bowed ship, and smothered as he was, he fought
onward for his life. But very soon the power of his charge was gone, his
limbs could not rise, and his breath was taken from him; the hole that
he had made was filled up behind him; fresh volumes from the shaken
height came pouring down upon him; his flanks and his back were wedged
fast in the cumber, and he stood still and trembled, being buried alive.

Jordas, with a great effort, threw himself off, and put his hat before
his mouth, to make himself a breathing space. He scarcely knew whether
he stood or lay; but he kicked about for want of air, and the more
he kicked the worse it was, as in the depth of nightmare. Blindness,
choking, smothering, and freezing fell in a lump upon his poor body now,
and the shrieking of the horse and the panting of his struggles came, by
some vibration, to him.

But just as he began to lose his wits, sink away backward, and gasp for
breath, a gleam of light broke upon his closing eyes; he gathered the
remnant of his strength, struck for it, and was in a space of free air.
After several long pants he looked around, and found that a thicket of
stub oak jutting from the crag of the gap had made a small alcove with
billows of snow piled over it. Then the brave spirit of the man came
forth. "There is room for Dukie as well as me," he gasped; "with God's
help, I will fetch him in."

Weary as he was, he cast himself back into the wall of snow, and
listened. At first he heard nothing, and made sure that all was over;
but presently a faint soft gurgle, like a dying sob, came through the
murk. With all his might he dashed toward the sound, and laid hold of a
hairy chin just foundering. "Rise up, old chap," he tried to shout, and
he gave the horse a breath or two with the broad-brimmed hat above his
nose. Then Marmaduke rallied for one last fight, with the surety of a
man to help him. He staggered forward to the leading of the hand he knew
so well, and fell down upon his knees; but his head was clear, and he
drew long breaths, and his heart was glad, and his eyes looked up, and
he gave a feeble whinny.

CHAPTER XLI

BAT OF THE GILL

Upon th