236 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXXIV. 



we had caught of the trees guided us for another 

 start, and we went onwards as rapidly as we could 

 until the storm again closed round us, with such 

 violence that we could scarcely stand upright 

 against it. We began now at times to hear the 

 river, and we made straight for the sound, know- 

 ing that it must be crossed before we could reach 

 home, and hoping to recognise some bend or rock 

 in it which would guide us on our way. 



At last we came to the flat valley through which 

 the stream ran ; but here the drift was tremendous, 

 and it was with the utmost difficulty that we got 

 to the water's edge. When there, we were fairly 

 puzzled by the changed aspect of everything ; but 

 suddenly the evening became lighter and the drift- 

 ing snow not quite so dense. We saw that we 

 should soon be able to ascertain where we were, so 

 we halted for a minute or two, stamping about to 

 keep ourselves from freezing. My poor dog imme- 

 diately crouched at our feet, and, curling himself 

 up, laid down ; in a few moments he was nearly 

 covered with the snow : but the storm was evidently 

 ceasing, at any rate for a short time, and very soon 

 a small bit of blue sky appeared overhead, but in a 

 moment it was again concealed by the flying shower. 

 The next time, however, that the blue sky appeared, 

 it was for a longer period, and the snow entirely 



