n his mind. South-west he would push as hard as
he could go. The animals had probably not gone far; he must soon come up
with them, and the sooner the better.

Gallantly his steed stepped out through the deepening snowdrifts. Fain
would the sensible animal have turned and made his way back to his
stable, but Jim's credit was at stake, and no turning back was allowed.
Mile after mile was covered; where could those animals be in this storm?

Ha! a sudden furious rush of wind brought Jim's horse nearly to its
knees. How the gale roared, and how the snow drove in his face! Up and
on again, south-west after those horses!

But which _was_ the south-west? The daylight had completely faded; not a
gleam showed where the sun had set. Jim felt for his pocket-compass; it
was gone! The wind, blowing apparently from every quarter in
succession, was no guide at all. Nothing was visible more than a yard
away; nothing within that distance but driving snowflakes. Any tracks of
the runaways would be covered up in a few moments; in any case there was
no light to discern them.

[Sidenote: Lost!]

However, it was of no use to stand still. By pressing on he might
overtake his quarry, and after fright had driven them away, instinct
might lead them home. That was now the only chance of safety. Would he
ever find them?

Deeper and deeper sank his horse into the snow; harder and harder it
became to raise its hoofs clear for the next step. Snorting with fear,
and trembling in every limb, the gallant beast struggled on. He _must_
go on! To stop would be fatal. Benumbed as he was by the intense cold,
bewildered by the storm, with hand and voice Jim cheered on his steed,
and nobly it responded.

Suddenly it sank under him. A hollow, treacherously concealed by the
snow, had received them both into its chilly depths.

"Up again, old boy!" cried Jim, springing from the saddle, and tugging
at the rein, sinking to the waist in the soft snow as he did so. "Now
then, one more try!"

The faithful horse struggled desperately to respond to the words. But
its strength was spent; its utmost exertions would not suffice to
extricate it. The soft snow gave way under its hoofs; deeper and deeper
it sank. With a despairing scream it made a last futile effort, then it
stretched its neck along the snow, and with a sob lay down to die.
Further efforts to move it would be thrown away, and Jim knew it. In a
few minutes it would be wrapped in its winding-sheet.