ruptly kicked the coals
apart, smothered the smoke, and taking up his pack fled again, much
amused and much heartened, for further efforts. He could not remember
when he had spent a more enjoyable half hour.

He maintained his flight until far after midnight, when, coming into
stony ground, he found excellent shelter under a great ledge, one
projecting so widely that when he awoke in the morning and found it
raining, he was quite dry. It poured heavily until the afternoon, and he
did not stir from his covert, but, wrapped in the painted coat and
blankets, and taking occasional strips of the deer meat, he enjoyed the
period of rest.

It rained so hard that he could not see more than fifty yards away, and
in the ravine before his ledge the water ran in a cold stream. The
forest looked desolate and mournful, and he would have been desolate and
mournful himself if it had not been for the single fact that he was able
to keep dry. That made all the difference in the world, and the contrast
between his own warm and sheltered lair and the chill and dripping woods
and thickets merely heightened his sense of comfort.

When the rain stopped it was followed by an extremely cold night that
froze everything tight. Every tree, bush and the earth itself was
covered with glittering ice, a vast and intricate network, a wilderness
in white and silver. It was alike beautiful and majestic, and it made
its full appeal to Henry, but at the same time he knew that his
difficulties had been increased. He would have to walk over ice, and, as
he passed through the thickets, fragments of ice brushed from the twigs
would fall about him. For a while, at least, the Ice Age had returned.
It was sure, too, to make game very scarce, as all the animals would
stay in their coverts as long as they could at such a time, and he must
replenish his supplies of food soon. But that was a difficulty to which
he gave only a passing thought. Others pressed upon him with more
immediate force.

His moccasins had become worn from long use and they slipped on the ice
as if it were glass. He met this difficulty by cutting pieces from one
of the blankets and tying them tightly over his feet with thin strips
from his buckskin garments. He was then able to walk without slipping,
and he made good progress again through the forest, the exertion of
travel keeping him warm. Meanwhile he watched everywhere for a sign, a
sign from the four, keeping an especial eye for the tre