Heavy drifts of snow
could be seen falling headlong from the clouds hanging about the peak,
making a wonderful if awesome sight.
"Girls, our lives are in jeopardy unless we reach the timber belt!"
shouted Polly, trying to outcry the wind that shrieked down the Slide.
Noddy, brave little burro, quivered in dread of the elements sweeping
about them, but she responded to Polly's call and fairly dragged the
trembling Choko after her.
The hurricane was now screaming about the peak and howling horribly
through the fissures in the ice. As the blizzard gathered fury and
strength, the clouds, like rags torn from the sky, raged past the
riders, every now and then sweeping the snow completely over them.
Still the full fury of the gale had not yet appeared.
Polly stopped momentarily and yelled back her orders: "Every one grab
hold on the tail of the horse in front of you!"
They comprehended the sense of this advice, but could not manage to act
upon it, as the drifts of snow and ice made it impossible to jump from
the saddle, or lean over to hold to anything.
By this time, everything was hidden from sight and even the foremost
rider looked ghostlike in the gray light and snow. The trail was
obliterated by the drifts and the going was slippery and slow.
"We've simply _got_ to make that timber, girls!" shouted Polly, more to
encourage than to urge, as she knew the beasts were doing their utmost.
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