their descent with something of the feeling of Arctic explorers who had reached the Pole.
It was indeed high time to return. Clouds were blowing up fast, and with the thickening snow began rapidly to obscure the view. The trio went very cautiously, trying to remember various landmarks which they had noticed on the way up. Gipsy's idea of retracing their footsteps in the snow soon proved futile, for already all tracks were obliterated. It was impossible to see far in front of them, and but for the compass that hung on Donald's watch-chain they would have had no notion of where they were going.
"We must keep due west, and look out sharp for precipices. Don't let us get separated on any account. Hadn't we better use the rope again?"
"I don't believe we're anywhere near the way we came up. I don't recognize these rocks in the least," said Meg.
"Never mind, if we get down somewhere to civilization," returned Gipsy.
"Yes, but we don't want to be five miles away from our bicycles!"
"We're all right!" exclaimed Donald jubilantly. "Here's the piece of white quartz we were sitting on, I'm sure. Yes!" (grubbing about under the snow) "I'm right, for here's a scrap of the silver paper from the chocolate we were eating. Hurrah! I'm going to set up for an Alpine guide!"
The snow was clearing considerably as they got farther down the mountainside, and after a while they were able to recognize various points of the
