"It will be better for the girls, at any rate. There's a farmhouse
at the turn into Glendale."
It did not take long for the party to follow out this proposal, and in
spite of the wind and snow the four young people started bravely off, Nat
supporting Dorothy, while Tom put his strong arm about the uncertain
Tavia--uncertain because she not only slipped continually, but threatened
to do so in between the actual occurrences.
"Awful!" called back Nat, who was somewhat in advance.
"And can't see even the path," yelled Tom, "This snow must have fallen all
in one piece."
"If it only would not get dark so quickly," Tavia sobbed, for, indeed, the
girl was almost crying--the matter had become very serious--darkness,
snowdrifts and wilderness.
"Wait!" called Tom, feeling that Tavia might not be so alarmed if all were
closer together.
Nat and Dorothy stood until the others came up.
Then all four trudged on again. However, could they cover a half mile at
that rate?
"We ought to have brought an auto lamp," said Nat.
No sooner had he uttered the words than he slipped, Dorothy fell with him,
Tom and Tavia tumbled, full drive, after them, and all were plunged into a
hole deep enough to terrify the girls and even to alarm the boys.
"Well," exclaimed Tom, as quickly as he could get speech, "that hole was
covered up with a light blanket.
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