his head in the Indian's blanket, covering
everything but eyes, nose, and mouth, and he did not suffer
greatly from the bitter wind. But it was weary work breaking the
way through the snow, rendered all the more difficult by the icy
crust on top. The snow rose to his waist and he broke it at
first with his body, but by and by he used the stick, and thus he
plodded on, not making much more than a mile an hour.

Dick longed now for the shelter of the warm den. The cold wind,
despite the protection of the blanket, began to seek out the
crannies in it and sting his face. He knew that he was wet again
from ankle to knee, but he struggled resolutely on, alike for the
sake of keeping warm and for the sake of shortening the
distance. Yet there were other difficulties than those of the
snow. The ground became rough. Now and then he would go
suddenly through the treacherous snow into an old buffalo wallow
or a deep gully, and no agility could keep him from falling on
his face or side. This not only made him weary and sore, but it
was a great trial to his temper also, and the climax came when he
went through the snow into a prairie brook and came out with his
shoes full of water.

Dick shivered, stamped his feet violently, and went on painfully
breaking his way through the snow. He began to have that dull
stupor of mind and body again. He could see nothing on the
surface of the white plain save himself. The world was entirely
desolate. But if the Sioux were coming a second time he did not
care. He was amused at the thought of the Sioux coming. There
were hidden away somewhere in some snug valley, and were too
sensible to venture upon the plain.

Late in the afternoon the wind became so fierce, and Dick was so
tired, that he dug a hole in the deepest snow bank he could find,
wrapped the blankets tightly around him, and crouched there for
warmth and shelter. Then, when the muscles were at rest, he
began to feel the cold all through his wet feet and legs. He
took off his shoes and leggings inside the shelter of his
blankets, and chafed feet and legs with vigorous hands. This
restored warmth and circulation, but he was compelled after a
while to put on his wet garments again. He had gained a rest,
however, and as he did not fear the damp so much while he was
moving, he resumed the painful march.

The mountains seemed as far away as ever, but Dick knew that he
had come five or six miles. He could look back and