r
and stronger, and the cold increased. Unbuckling our buffalo robes, we
put them over our shoulders, drawing down the flaps of our caps to keep
our ears warm. Before long it began to rain, but the rain soon changed
into snow, which came down thicker and thicker, until, in the course of
an hour, the whole face of the country was covered by a sheet of white,
making it difficult to distinguish the marks which had hitherto guided
our course.

"Dis not pleasant, Massa Mike," observed Dio; "we must push on to a
wood, for if de snow falls as it now does, before many hours de horses
will not be able to travel through it."

Dio was perfectly right, but the question was whether we could find the
desired wood. From my knowledge of the country, I believed that no
forest existed for many miles, the intermediate space being one
extensive prairie, the very worst description of country to be caught in
by a snow-storm. Still it would not do to pull up where we were, as we
had no means of lighting a fire. We urged on our horses therefore,
trying to keep as direct a course as possible. The snow, however, fell
so thickly, that we could no longer discern objects at any distance. It
was difficult, indeed, to steer a straight course, for the flakes
quickly obliterated the tracks of our horses' hoofs. We could only
judge that we were going right by the wind, which blew on our left
cheeks. That, however, veered about, coming in fitful gusts, and
driving the snow against our eyes with a force that almost blinded us.
Our horses, too, began to grow weary by their efforts to make their way
through the snow, and I feared, after all, that we should have to
dismount, and lead them on by the bridle. Still it would not do to give
in.

"We must push forward, Dio, and perhaps the snow before long will
cease," I observed.

"Nebber fear, Massa Mike," answered the faithful black whose teeth were
chattering with the cold; "worse things dan dis happen 'fore now, and we
got safe out of dem."

I remembered, indeed, my many former providential escapes, and I had not
forgotten that my dear little Lily was praying for us. Still matters
looked worse and worse. The snow gave no sign of ceasing, while the
wind blew more keenly and fiercely than before. The day, too, was
drawing to a close. A night on the prairie under such circumstances
would be truly dreadful. There was no moon, and with the sky obscured,
should the snow continue to fall, we mi