All stared around them in bewilderment. They scarcely knew how to turn.
"Well, one thing is sure, we can't stay here," said Shep. "Come on," and he started off in the direction his chum had pointed out.
"Mind you, I don't say I am right," called out Snap.
"We'll go that way anyhow—if we can make it," said Whopper.
It was slow traveling, and they had to rest frequently, for the wind seemed to fairly take the breath out of their bodies. Once they came up to a clump of bushes and were half tempted to make a prolonged stop there. But Snap demurred very strongly.
"It won't do, fellows," he said. "The snow is piling up fast and the bushes will be snowed under in another hour or two. We have got to reach the timber somehow. It's our only chance of safety."
Again they struggled on, so out of breath and weak they could scarcely draw one snowshoe after the other. Giant fell down and had to be raised up.
"I—I am afraid I ca—can't go another step!" he blurted out. "I am as we—weak as a—a cat!"
"We'll help you," said Snap, kindly. "Come, Shep, you take one arm and I'll take the other. Whopper can go in front, to break the force of the wind for us."
At the end of ten minutes more all were ready to drop. They were numbed with the cold and their breath came in quick, short gasps. It looked as if they must give up and perish.