CHAPTER XXV

THE SNOW AVALANCHE

"A SNOW avalanche!" echoed Roger. "Do you mean it has come down from the side of the mountain, and filled the opening we used to get in here?"

"Yes," explained Dick, "that is what has happened, as near as I can tell. But, after all, it may not be so serious a thing. We will see what can be done about breaking through."

"We have to get out some way or other, that's sure!" declared Roger, as he hurried along after his cousin, now heading for the place where the exit had been.

This was now filled by a tightly-wedged mass of snow. When they thrust the butts of their guns against it they were amazed to discover how firmly it had become packed.

"Why, it is like so much ice!" exclaimed Roger.

"Almost," added the more conservative Dick, "though you can dig into it by working hard. If we only had shovels here we might do something."

"But how long ought it take us to burrow through?" demanded Roger, with a note of dismay in his voice.

"That depends on how thick the wedge turns out to be," replied Dick. "If it is five feet, we could make it in an hour or so. If deeper through than that, it would take us much longer."

"And the worst of it is we haven't a scrap of food along with us," Roger complained. "If we were well supplied in that way I'd think it of less importance."

"We must get out, one way or another," continued Dick, grimly, "and the first thing we ought to learn is where the weakest part of the blockade lies."

"As it came down on the run," Roger figured, "it seems to me the greatest amount of snow would gather at the base. How about that, Dick?"

"You are right, and it will pay us to attack the barrier as high up as we can get. There may be some sticks of wood left back yonder, which we can use to dig with. Let us take a look."

A close search produced three fragments of branches that could be utilized as makeshift shovels; at least they would be able to dig after a fashion into the hard barrier, and then collect the loosened material by scooping it up in their hands to be thrown away.

It promised to be slow and painful work, but none of them dreamed of complaining. There was so much at stake that even Roger had to forget his natural feelings and devote himself to vigorous work.

First of all Dick climbed up the best way he could, and found out how they could secure a footing in order to attack the snow blockade higher up. When this had once been settled they began.

Since all of them could not get at the small space marked out, they tried it in relays. While two dug the third one rested; and when one of the others gave out he took the vacant place.

The fire dwindled away and finally seemed to go out entirely. They could spare no time in order to search for more fuel; besides, while devoting every energy to the task before them, none of them felt at all cold.

"What are the prospects, Dick?" asked Roger, as he hastened to take the other's place in turn, having had a good rest.

"It strikes me the snow is packed lighter than what we struck at first; what do you think about it, Mayhew?"

The frontiersman was always willing to advance an opinion after it had been asked, though he would seldom speak first. So now he stopped to take in a few good breaths, and then made reply.

"I was just thinking the same way myself, to tell you the truth. And it goes to show that we must be getting near the outside, where the pressure is much less."

"Then we may break through at any time; is that it?" asked Dick.

After a short time Roger gave utterance to a shout.

"I'm through the layer of packed snow!" he exclaimed jubilantly. "See, here is a place where a stick cuts into it as easy as it would through a pear. We have won out, Dick; and in a little while we ought to see the outside world again."

On investigation it was discovered that there was good reason for Roger's jubilation. They had bored through the bank of snow that filled the opening, thanks to the wisdom shown in attacking it at its weakest point.

Five minutes afterwards a hole had been made sufficiently large to allow of their crawling through it to freedom.

The snow had ceased falling, although there did not seem to be a break in the clouds overhead. It was much over a foot on the level, and in some places, where the wind had drifted it, they found it would pay them to go around rather than wade directly through.

"That way leads to where we had our bitter experience last night," said Dick, as he pointed toward the southwest. "We do not want to see Lascelles and his red allies again, if we can help it, so we will not turn in that direction."

"If we ever do have to meet him face to face," added Roger, "let us hope it will be when we have plenty of powder and bullets for our guns. If the cowardly rascal had not kept himself hidden behind that tree, while the fight was going on, I would have made sure that my lead found him. He is the worst enemy our families know, for he would rob them of their homes."

"I felt the same way," confessed Dick; "but he was too smart for us. I think he must have guessed he would be the first target for our guns. Still, we must remember that even Lascelles is not as bad as he might be. He would not allow the Indians to kill us on the spot, for one thing, as some renegades would have done."

"Well, after all," Roger continued, "it is a question in my mind whether he saved us because he had a streak of decency in him, or for some other reason. Perhaps he meant we should be carried off by those Blackfeet to their village, and adopted into the tribe."

"It might be as you say," admitted Dick, "for he told us that was what he meant them to do with Jasper Williams. It would be getting well rid of troublesome enemies, because there would be little chance of our ever coming back."

"Now that we have burrowed out of that trap, what is the next move, Dick?"

"I think we have decided already that we will not start back to the camp. Badly off as we are, we have come a long way after Williams, and, now that we know he is not a great many miles away, we must find him!"

"If what that trader said is true Jasper needs us, too," declared Roger.

"If he is a prisoner we are bound to do all we can to rescue him," said the other boy, although it required no little fortitude to be able to decide in this way.

In one direction lay comfort and safety; in the other direction they must expect to find danger in many shapes, privations such as hunger and exhaustion, and, for aught they knew, death itself might lie in wait. Yet, in spite of all this, neither Dick nor Roger hesitated.

"Then it is on with us to the Frenchmen's camp!" said Roger.

It was in that spirit they made their start. Just how far away the mysterious sheet of water lay they could not tell. It might be three miles, it might be twenty, for all they knew. Vague stories concerning it had drifted into the explorers' camp from various sources. Trappers who had caught a glimpse of it gave wonderful accounts concerning its vast extent. Indians recounted the most marvelous tales of its being the home of the mighty Evil Spirit that possessed the Enchanted Land.

The boys were not free from a certain amount of superstitious awe; for human nature had not progressed as far along certain lines a hundred years ago as in these later days. But they possessed bold hearts, and, animated by that single purpose of serving those they loved, they were willing to dare anything rather than give up the quest.

It was in this frame of mind, then, that they began heading into the east, trudging uncomplainingly through heaps of snow that often came to their waists, and keeping a constant lookout for either game or human enemies.