But although they were out of the beat of the storm, they grew no warmer. More than Madge Steele complained of the cold within the next few minutes. Ruth, indeed, felt her extremities growing numb. The terrible, biting frost was gradually overcoming them, now that they were no longer fighting the blast. Exertion had fought this deadly coldness off; but Ruth Fielding knew that their present inaction was beckoning the approach of unconsciousness.
CHAPTER XXII
THE HIDEOUT
Helen had drawn close to her chum and they sat upon the pile of leaves that had blown into this lair under the bank, with their arms about each other's waists.
"What do you suppose will become of us, Ruthie?" Helen whispered.
"Why, how can we tell? Maybe the boys and Long Jerry are searching for us right now——"
"In this dreadful storm? Impossible!" declared Helen.
"Well, that they will search for us as soon as it holds up, we can be sure," Ruth rejoined.
"But, in the meantime? They may be hours finding us. And I am sure I would not know how to start for Snow Camp, if the storm should stop."
"Quite true, Helen."