amb it fast!"

They reached the larger mass and moved across it, but Lisle, clutching
his companion's arm, bewildered and almost blinded by the snow, doubted
if he were retracing his steps. He did not remember some of the ridges
and ragged blocks over which they stumbled, and the smaller rents seemed
more numerous. It was evident that Crestwick was badly worn out and they
must endeavor to reach the bank with as little delay as possible.

At last they came to the broad crevasse, farther up the stream, and Lisle
turned to Crestwick.

"Better take off your skin-coat. You'll have to jump."

"I can't," said the other dejectedly. "It's not nerve--the thing's clean
beyond me."

His slack pose--for he was dimly visible amid the haze of driving
snow--bore out his words. The long march he had made had brought him to
the verge of exhaustion; his overtaxed muscles would respond to no
further call on them. For a moment or two Lisle stood gazing at the dark
water in the gap.

"Then we'll look for a narrower place," he decided. "Where did you get
across?"

"I don't know. Don't remember this split, but the ice was working under
me. Perhaps the snow had covered it and now it's fallen in."

They scrambled forward, following the crevasse, but could find no means
of passing it and now and then the ice trembled ominously. At last, when
the opposite side projected a little, Lisle suddenly sprang out from the
edge and alighted safely.

"It's easy!" he called, stripping off his long skin coat and flinging one
end of it across the chasm to Crestwick. "Get hold and face the jump!"

It was not a time for hesitation; the exhausted lad dare not contemplate
the gap, lest his courage fail him, and nerving himself for an effort, he
leaped. Striking the edge on the other side, he plunged forward as Lisle
dragged at the coat, and then rolled over in the snow. He was up in a
moment, gasping hard, almost astonished to find himself in security, and
Lisle led him back to the snow-covered shingle.

"It strikes me as fortunate that I came to look for you," he observed.
"You'd probably have ended by walking into the river."

"Thanks," said Crestwick simply. "It isn't the first hole you've pulled
me out of."

They reached the camp and the lad, shaking the snow off his furs, sat
down wearily on a few branches laid close to the sheltering boulder,
while Lisle took a frying-pan and kettle off the fire, and afterward
filled his pipe again and watche