cloud, urging on his reluctant dogs with voice and whip. The moment they
were allowed to stop, Husky, Luvtuk, and big Amook lay down as though
completely exhausted.

"We can't go a step further, Phil! We must make camp at once," panted
Serge. "This storm is a regular _poorga_, and will probably last all
night."

"But where can we camp?" asked Phil, in dismay. "There is timber down
below, but it looks miles away, and we can't get to it now."

"No," replied Serge; "we must stay where we are and burrow a hole in
this drift big enough to hold us. We've got to do it in a hurry too."

So saying, Serge drew his knife, for the outside of the drift close to
which they were halted was so hard packed as to render cutting
necessary, and outlined a low opening. From this he removed an unbroken
slab, and then began to dig furiously in the soft snow beyond.

In the meantime Phil was wondering why Jalap Coombs did not appear; for
he had supposed him to be close behind Serge; but now his repeated
shoutings gained no reply.

"He was not more than one hundred feet behind me when the storm began,"
said Serge, whose anxiety caused him to pause in his labor, though it
was for the preservation of their lives.

"He must be in some trouble," said Phil, "and I am going back to find
him."

"You can't go alone!" cried Serge. "If you are to get lost, I must go
with you."

"No. One of us must stay here with Nel-te, and it is my duty to go; but
do you shout every few seconds, and I promise not to go beyond sound of
your voice."

Thus saying, Phil started back, and was instantly swallowed in the
vortex of the blizzard. Faithfully did Serge shout, and faithfully did
Phil answer, for nearly fifteen minutes. Then the latter came staggering
back, with horror-stricken face and voice.

"I can't find him, Serge! Oh, I can't find him!" he cried. "I am afraid
he has gone over the precipice. If he has, it is my fault, and I shall
never forgive myself, for I had no business to go so far ahead and let
the party get scattered."

Serge answered not a word, but fell with desperate energy to the
excavating of his snow-house. His heart was nigh breaking with the
sorrow that had overtaken them, but he was determined that no other
lives should be lost if his efforts could save them. The excavation was
soon so large that Phil could work with him, but with all their furious
digging they secured a shelter from the pitiless _poorga_ none too soon.
The sled