olt, and a puff of wind
nearly upset it, as the craft did not properly answer the helm.

"Oh, my!" screamed Grace, as she clutched Betty. "We are going to
upset."

"No, we're not!" declared Allen, as he loosed the halyards, letting the
sail come down on the run. "I guess we'll have to abandon the _Spider,"_
he went on, "and tramp it. The snow is too heavy. We may upset."

"Well, the girls are good walkers," observed Frank.

"Which is a blessing," spoke Will. "Out of the _Spider_ into
the--frying-pan. Don't you ask me to carry you, Sis," and he looked at
his sister.

"No danger!" she retorted, haughtily.

The storm, though continuing steadily, had so far lessened in severity
that the shores of the river could be made out, standing grim and dark
with their fringes of trees.

"We'll just run the _Spider_ over to shore," said Allen, "and leave it
there. We can come for it to-morrow, or whenever the storm lets up."

"What about the blankets and robes?" asked Will.

"Take them with us. We--oh, well, take them along. They may blow away,"
and Allen corrected himself.

The girls and boys climbed out of the boat, loaded themselves with the
wraps after the craft had been tied close to shore, and started off down
the river.

"What were you going to say about the blankets and robes?" asked Will,
when he got a chance to speak to Allen alone. "Was it that we might need
them--in case we didn't get back to camp?"

"It was."

"Don't you think we have a very good chance?"

"Not extra good--to-night. Of course we'll get there to-morrow, but it
will be too bad if the girls have to stay out all night. Perhaps they
won't, but if they do we can make a shelter of the robes and blankets."

"That's so," agreed Will.

On they tramped through the storm. It was hard work, for the snow
clogged their steps and the wind made the carrying of the heavy blankets
an additional burden. But no one murmured.

They kept to the river, and thus were assured of a straight road to
camp. It was not like being lost in the wood. The only danger was that
they were quite a distance from their cabins, and that night was coming
on, and that a big storm was raging. Long since it had passed from the
class of a mere squall, in which it seemed to be at one time.

"Did anyone bring the sandwiches we left?" asked Grace, when they had
gone on for perhaps a mile.

"I did, and your chocolates, too," said Allen. "Will you have them now?"

"Divide the cand