the opposite
direction, will lead us to a safe harbor, in a third of the distance
which, when accomplished, we shall be willing to stay in till spring
comes again. It is always dangerous travelling through these wilds when
prepared, but in our destitute condition it is most hazardous."

"Lead us on; we can endure it," cried the children, enthusiastically.

"No, no; children," said the trapper, "Jones tells the truth, we can
never cross the country that lies between us and our friends, in the
dead of winter. We must content ourselves in a place of security, if we
can find one, until spring again comes."

"Yonder," said the chief, pointing towards the west, where the Great
Sierra arose with its snowy peaks towering among the clouds, "are the
Snow mountain. To reach the white settlement beyond we must cross it.
We are too weak and destitute to do it. Let us build a lodge here and
gather what provisions we can before the snow is deeper, and the deer
all leave us."

"I believe it is the best thing we can do, for our safety," said the
cautious trapper.

"Oh! no; do not think of such a thing!" said Sidney. "I am sure we can
cross the mountain, and when over them, it cannot be far to civilized
habitations."

"You are young and sanguine," said the trapper, "and do not know the
dangers before you."

"We might as well pursue the trail a day or two," said Jones, "and
then, if we think we cannot cross the mountain, we can build winter
quarters. For my part, I do not relish a winter here, any more than
Sidney."

"Well," said Cole, casting an admiring glance towards Jane, "I think
quarters might become tolerable, if well supplied with venison--and I
think they might, between us all."

The chief saw the look, and a close observer might have for an instant
observed a peculiar glitter in his eye, but no word or movement of his
indicated that he had witnessed it, or if he did, cared for it.
Resuming their journey, they were soon made aware that the ground
before them was rising, and covered with a greater depth of snow. By
noon they had come to the base of high ranges of hills that rose one
above another, and above all towered the Sierra Nevada. Over these the
trail extended, and they were compelled either to encamp on the spot,
go back, or cross over the mountains. To pass over them seemed
impossible--to encamp on the exposed slope on which they were would
subject them unnecessarily to severe suffering from cold; and their