A wind was springing up and very soon the sky became overcast. In a little while snow began to fall. David in advance, Andy directly behind him, the two walked for a time in silence. At length David stopped.
“Andy, b’y, can you see th’ trail?” he asked. “My eyes is wonderful bad.”
“No,” said Andy, “’tis growing dark t’ me.”
The snow thickened as they plodded along, and the rising wind whirled it about in clouds.
“’Twill be a nasty night,” remarked David at the end of another hour.
“’Twill that,” agreed Andy.
“I’m glad we turned back when we did,” said David.
For a long time neither spoke. Both were stumbling. The pain in their eyes was intense, and it was only with the greatest effort that they could open them for brief intervals.
“We’ve been goin’ long enough t’ be at th’ tilt,” said David, breaking the silence again.