A fiercer buffeting
of wind puffed from the west, fiercely toothed with shot of snow. As
if in fear unnamable, a gaunt coyote suddenly appeared scurrying onward
before the hail and snow, and was quickly gone.
The horse shied violently out of the road. The girth of the saddle was
loosened. With a superhuman effort old Jim remained in his seat, but
he knew he must tighten the cinch. Dismounting, he permitted the horse
to face away from the gale. The pup came gladly to the shelter of the
miner's boots and clambered stiffly up on his leg, for a word of
companionship and comfort.
"All right," said Jim, giving him a pat on the head when the saddle was
once more secure in its place; "but I reckon we'll turn back homeward,
and I'll walk myself, for a spell, to warm me up. It may let up, and
if it does we can head for Fremont again without much loss of time."
With the bridle-rein over his shoulder, he led the horse back the way
they had come, his own head low on his breast, to avoid the particles
of snow that searched him out persistently.
They had not plodded homeward far when the miner presently discovered
they were floundering about in snow-covered brush. He quickly lifted
his head to look about. He could see for a distance of less than
twenty feet in any direction.
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