ll, yet the piercing air told us
that it would not long be delayed. The Delaware spoke but little. He
evidently did not like the state of things. I had made up my mind from
the first to be guided by his judgment. One thing was very certain,
that we could not stop where we were. Our only chance of safety
depended on our pushing on. `Where to?' I thought. I saw nothing but
the wide-rolling, blackened prairie before me. The sight alone was
depressing, independent of the anticipation of coming evil. Hour after
hour passed. Not a break appeared in the clouds, not a gleam of
sunshine burst forth to cheer us. Still the snow did not fall, and
there was nothing to impede our progress. We stopped at noon to dine.
A few minutes sufficed us for our frugal meal. The bitter cold did not
tempt us to rest longer than was necessary.

"On again we went. `Where is the wood in which we are to pass the
night?' I asked of the Delaware. `It is yet far-off,' was his
unsatisfactory answer. Evening was drawing on. I saw a bleak hill, but
no wood capable of affording us shelter. Just then a snowflake settled
on my face. It was a slight thing. How indifferent should I have been
to it at other times! Now it made my heart sink lower than it had ever
done before. Another and another fell; then down the snowflakes came
rapidly, thickly sprinkling the ground and our garments. The wind sent
them driving against us over the prairie. The Delaware pointed to the
hill. On towards it we pushed. The snow in a few minutes completely
covered the ground, a sheet of white was spread out where lately all had
been black, here and there only the taller tufts of grass appearing
above it. There was no prospect of the snow ceasing to fall. Soon it
covered our moccasins and reached to our ankles. Walking became more
and more difficult. It was half-way up to our knees, still we pushed
on. My companion remained silent. I did not trouble him by asking
questions. He had hopes of escaping, or he would, I thought, very
likely have sat down where he was and quietly awaited his fate. Had he
done so, it would have been my business to rouse him to exertion. The
snow fell thicker and thicker. Daylight was rapidly decreasing. It
grew less and less. All we could see was the sheet of snow immediately
surrounding us. Still my companion went steadily on.

"Backwoodsman as I am, and am proud to be, I should have been completely
at a loss in what