Bob seriously. "Besides, the folks will worry. Come ahead."

They turned back down the trail.

The snowfall increased.

"You can hardly see our tracks already," Bob called over his
shoulder. "And this wind is fierce. I had no idea it would snow. It
is awfully wet and sticky snow, too; see how it clings to the
trees."

They sped on.

The descent was far easier than the climb, and they could go
quickly.

"I don't remember that big rock," exclaimed Van suddenly, pointing
to a huge boulder that fronted them. "Isn't it a whacker! Odd that
I didn't notice it when we came up. Could we have passed it and not
seen it?"

[Illustration: "I DON'T REMEMBER THAT BIG ROCK"]

"I suppose we must have," Bob answered. "I don't remember it,
though. Everything looks queer and different in the storm. It's a
regular squall. How quickly it came!"

"Can you still see our tracks?"

"No. But of course we're right; I couldn't miss my way after coming