Dr. Shonto and Andy shook their heads. Henry professed familiarity with snowshoes, but never in his life had he been on skis.
“I reckon, after all,” Henry decided, “that skis wouldn’t do. Ye might enter th’ Valley of Arcana too pronto fer yer health. Snowshoes would be safest. You two men could learn to use them in no time, after ye’d practised a bit.”
“I’m for striking out direct for the valley to-morrow morning,” Charmian said suddenly. “What’s the use hemming and hawing about it? Nothing was ever accomplished by indecision. It’s a chance, and we take it—that’s all. If the storms were to hold off for any considerable time, Henry, how long ought it to take us for the trip in and out?”
“I can’t tell ye, ma’am—never havin’ finished her. But I’d say a month.”
“A month! So long as that?”
“Outside time, ma’am,” Henry explained.
“And is there any possibility of winter holding back that long?”
“Yes’m, they is. Ye never can tell what she’s gonta do. I’m a United States weather man, an’ I’m speakin’ from experience. One year winter she’ll set in as early as this. Next, they maybe won’t be any snow to speak of before Christmas. We’ve had three early winters hand-runnin’ now an’ I’d say it’s time for a late one.”
“Will you go along, Henry, and show us the way?” the girl asked eagerly.
“I been thinkin’,” Henry replied. “How’m I gonta tend to my weather reports?”