ided by glimpses of the apparently fitful fire of the sleighing party,
Doctor Churchill and Just made their way. Sometimes the course was
comparatively free from drifts; again they had to wallow nearly to their
waists.

"Confounded long way!" grunted Just. "Good thing we're both tough and
strong. Except for Jeff, there aren't any athletes in the Houghton
party."

"Don't I see somebody coming toward us?" Doctor Churchill asked,
presently.

The snowfall was lightening again, and the small flame in the distance
looked nearer. He put his hands to his mouth and gave a long, clear
hail. He was answered by a similar one. Then followed a peculiar musical
call, which Just, recognising, answered ecstatically.

"It's Jeff!" he shouted. "_Whoop!_ I'll bet he's glad to hear us!"

He was. He came plunging through the last big drift toward them, a
snow-encrusted figure. "Well, well!" he cried, in tones of pleasure and
relief. "I knew you'd come. Where are we, anyhow?"

"A mile off the road. Are you all right? I see you've got a fire.
How's--"

"Evelyn's all right, I think. Since we managed the fire she's fairly
warm again. Plucky as any girl in the crowd, and they're all plucky. How
are we to get our load down to the road?"

"I brought ropes, and we've a strong pair back there. We'll go and get
them, now that we know where you are. You go back to your party and
prepare them to be rescued."

"No, Just can go to the camp, and I'll keep on with you."

Just, being entirely willing to accept the part of rescuer, plowed on
through the big holes Jeff had left in his track. Doctor Churchill and
Jeff made their way back to Charlotte.

"Yes, we had rather a bad time for a while," admitted Jeff, as he helped
Andy make the horses ready to start. "We got pretty cold, and I thought
we'd never make the fire go. Found the inside of an old stump at last,
and got her started. Yes, all the girls looked after Evelyn--came pretty
near smothering her. I don't believe she's taken cold. The snow's
letting up. I can see our fire back there. No, we didn't see yours; we
were just tooting on general principles. Evelyn insisted she caught a
glimmer, and I started out to climb a tree to find out. I saw it then,
for a minute, and was sure it was you. Keep this fire going, Charlotte.
The storm may close down again, and we want to make straight tracks
across the fields."

By the time they reached the camp in the fields both Jeff and Doctor
Churchill w