Martin kept after his sledge. We
went on in this way till we reached the wood for which I was steering.

On getting under its shelter we lost no time in putting up the tent, in
which we immediately placed our two now perfectly blind companions.
Alick and I had cause to be thankful that we had not suffered in the
same way.

How dreadful would have been our fate had the whole party been struck by
snow-blindness!

Alick remembered to have heard that the only cure was to bathe the eyes
in cold water, and to remain under shelter. We might thus be delayed
for several days, but as we could not tell that we should not be
attacked in the same way, we thought this better than attempting to
reach Fort Ross without stopping. We lighted a fire, and put some snow
into the pot to melt. We had abundance of food for the journey, so that
the delay on that account was not of much consequence, though we might
have to go on short commons at the end of it.

Our blind companions found great relief from bathing their eyes. We had
to take the pot again and again to the fire, as it rapidly cooled and
began to freeze. All arrangements having been made, Alick took his gun,
and went out in the hopes of finding some game in the wood. Late in the
evening he returned without having shot anything. Another whole day
passed, and on the third, as Martin began to see a little, leaving
Bouncer to assist him in taking care of the camp, I accompanied Alick.

We had been out some hours when we caught sight of a small deer, to
which we gave chase. It kept a long way ahead of us, but we followed
its trail, determined, at all costs, to have it. It stopped several
times, and at last, we having got within range, Alick was tempted to
fire.

His shot took effect, but the deer bounded off, though we saw by the
crimson stains on the snow that it was severely wounded; still it kept
ahead of us, and disappeared behind a grove of larches.

Feeling pretty sure that it would seek for shelter in the wood, and
knowing that we could always trace it, as we were both weary of our long
run, we sat down for a few minutes to rest.

"Now," cried Alick, "well go and get the deer."

Again we started off, but had not gone many paces when we heard the
faint sounds of yelping and barking. The trail was clear enough, but
the deer, though wounded, had evidently gone at a great pace. In a
short time we discovered that the trail had been joined by that of
several othe