But the flakes came faster and faster. Great feathery flakes they
were at first. The girls went on, laughing and chatting, with never a
thought that harm could befall them through the gathering of these
fleecy droppings from the lowering clouds.




CHAPTER XIX

BESIEGED BY THE STORM KING


Tom Cameron and his two friends were so busy setting up a target and
throwing iced snow-balls at it, that they barely noticed the first
big flakes of the storm. But by and by these flakes passed and then a
wind of deadly chill swept down upon the camp and with it fine
pellets of snow--not larger than pin-points--but which blinded one
and hid all objects within ten feet.

"Come on!" roared Bob. "This is no fun. Let's beat it to the house."

"Oh, it can't last long this way," said Isadore Phelps. "My
goodness! did you ever see it snow harder in your life?"

"That I never did," admitted Tom. "I wonder if the girls have come
back?"

"If they haven't," said Bob, "they'd better wait where they are
until this flurry is over."