d, so that they could all
assist in hauling it along. On the smooth ice the load proved to be a
light one, so that they had little difficulty in progressing. But, as
the old lumberman had said, the ridges of snow on the lake were
numerous, and some of these were piled up several feet high, and the
party had to make long detours around them.

"This isn't going to be so easy, after all," remarked Fred, after they
had skated for almost half an hour. "I thought we would get to Snowshoe
Island in no time."

It was now quite dark, and the snow was falling steadily. So far, there
had been little wind, but now this, too, sprang up, sending the frozen
particles directly into their faces.

"Gee! this isn't so pleasant!" exclaimed Andy, as he pulled down his cap
and pulled up the sweater he was wearing.

"The wind is increasing," said Fred a minute later. "Hark to that, will
you?"

All listened, and from a distance heard the wind stirring through the
woods bordering the lake in that vicinity. Then the wind bore down upon
them, and with it came a heavier fall of snow.

"Say, this is going to be some snowstorm!"

"Yes, and some blow too!"

"I wish it wasn't so dark!"

"Uncle Barney, are you sure you know the way?" questioned Randy, as all
came to a halt for a moment to turn their backs to the wind and catch
their breath.

"Oh, yes, my lad! I know the way well enough," was the old lumberman's
reply. "But, believe me, I didn't expect any such snowstorm as this when
I went after you. I thought it would be just an ordinary fall."

"It seems to be getting heavier every minute," declared Jack, as he
sheltered his eyes with his hand and tried to peer forth into the
darkness. "Why, the snow is coming down in regular chunks!"

The flakes were indeed both heavy and thick, and the wind sent the snow
sweeping across the ice, forming new ridges in every direction.

"The first thing you know, we'll be blocked completely," declared Randy,
after they had progressed another quarter of a mile. "Just look at that
wall of snow, will you?" and he pointed ahead, where a snowdrift was all
of five feet high and rapidly growing higher.

The Rovers could see by his manner that the old lumberman was growing
much disturbed. He led the way first in one direction and then in
another. Then presently he called a halt.

"It ain't no use," he declared flatly. "I thought I could work my way
around these snowdrifts, the same as I did when I came ove