ge was already buried from sight, and poor little Nel-te was
wellnigh smothered ere they lifted him from it and pulled him into the
burrow.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

COASTING FIVE MILES IN FIVE MINUTES.

In spite of their faintness and weakness from hunger and exhaustion,
Phil and Serge were so stimulated by the emergency that within half an
hour they had dug a cavity in the great drift sufficiently large to hold
the three dogs as well as themselves. The excavation was driven straight
for a few feet, and then turned to one side, where it was so enlarged
that they could either lie down or sit up. Into this diminutive chamber
they dragged their robes and sleeping-bags. The shivering dogs crept in
and curled up at their feet. The sledge was left outside, and the
opening was closed as well as might be by the slab of compacted snow
that had been cut from it. Poor little Nel-te, who was numbed and
whimpering with cold and hunger, was rubbed into a glow, comforted and
petted, until at length he fell asleep, nestled between the lads, and
then they found time to talk over their situation. For a while they had
no thought save for the dear friend and trusty comrade, who, alive or
dead, was still out in that terrible storm, and, as they believed, lost
to them forever.

"I don't suppose there is the faintest hope of ever seeing him again,"
said Phil. "If he went over the precipice he must have been killed, and
is buried deep in the snow by this time. Even if he did not, and is
still wandering somewhere in this vicinity, he must perish before
morning. Oh, Serge, can't we do anything for him? It makes me feel like
a cowardly traitor to be sitting here in comfort while the dear old chap
may be close at hand, and perishing for want of our help. And it is my
fault, too! The fault of my inexcusable carelessness. It seems, old man,
as if I should go crazy with thinking of it."

"But you mustn't think of it in that way, Phil," answered Serge,
soothingly. "As leader of the party it was your duty to go ahead and
pick out the road, while it was ours to keep you in sight. If either of
us is to blame for what has happened, I am the one. I should have looked
back oftener and made sure that he was still close behind me. Now there
is nothing we can do except wait for daylight and the end of the storm.
We have our parents, this child, and ourselves to think of first. Nor
could we accomplish anything even if we tried. The storm has doubled in
fury sin