"We can see a light," answered Dave. He took up the branch from the fire. "Can you see our light?"
"Yes."
A long talk followed, and the party above, numbering four, said they had brought along a good rope. This they lowered, and after not a little difficulty Mr. Porter and Dave were raised up to the ledge above.
"There come the wolves again!" cried the youth, as he reached the ledge. "Have you a shotgun with you?"
"Yes," said Philip Lapham. "Please lend it to me."
The weapon was passed over, and Dave blazed away twice in rapid succession. A wild snarling and yelping followed, and then the wolves disappeared; and that was the last seen of them.
"We are well out of that," murmured Mr. Porter. "And I am glad of it."
"And I am glad too," added Dave.
As it was snowing heavily the party did not waste time on the edge of the cliff, but moved back to a small hut built on the mountain side and which was easily located by the Norwegian guide. Here they found the others of the exploring party, and here Mr. Porter and Dave were served with a hot meal and made as comfortable as possible.
The snow lasted until noon of the next day, and then it grew clear and much warmer. On the following day Dave and his father and the guide went down the mountain to the sheep-station. Before they left they bade the Laphams and the others good-bye, and Mr. Porter said he would leave the question of locating the mines entirely in Philip Lapham's charge.