he snow and
tempest ceased and we moved on, trampling down the snow as before; but
ere we quite got through the pass, night fell. Though the wind had
fallen, the cold was dreadful, and several lost fingers, toes, even
hands and feet from frostbite, as we waited for dawn in the open. As
early as we could we moved down the glen, descending, without road, over
difficult and precipitous places, the extreme depth of the snow enabling
us to pass over countless dangers. Thus our enemy became our friend.

"'It was evening prayer time ere we got from the mouth of the valley,
bedtime prayers when we reached the village of Auleng. The people
carried us to their warm houses, brought out fat sheep for us, a
superfluity of hay and grain for our horses, with abundance of wood to
kindle our fires. To pass from the cold and snow into such a village
with its warm houses, to find plenty of good food as we did after days
of hunger is an enjoyment that can only be understood by those who have
suffered similar hardship, have endured such heavy distress.'"

Old Faithful paused and sighed. "That is so like Firdoos Gita Makani,"
he said. "When danger was over he would sit down and write beautiful
things about it; but when it was there he never seemed to think of
anything but trampling it down."

"That is like all Kings," said Roy proudly, "and brave men are always
Kings in danger."

But Foster-father was looking at the fire. "Abundance of fuel," he
murmured, "that is what we have not."

"We shall not need it here, friend," replied the old trooper. "Meroo,
remove that log; 'tis too hot as it is, and if the snow continues to
drift as it was doing a while agone--" he moved to the door, which
opened inward and set it wide. A great white wall reaching almost to the
eaves showed filling up the doorway! "It is as I thought," he said; "we
are prisoned here till the storm passes. Thank God we have provision
enough for some days."

"And thanks to others also," put in Foster-father heartily; "but for
thee and Meroo, old friend----"

"As Firdoos Gita Makani used to say," remarked the old man with an air
of great virtue, "'Gratitude comes when danger has gone,' so she must
wait a bit yet."

CHAPTER XIII

OVER THE PASS

Gratitude had longer to wait than even Foster-father, who always took a
gloomy view of things, had thought for, since the next morning found the
shed almost hidden beneath a snowdrift. Still, as Old Faithful remarked,
it