"So am I," came from Whopper. "But say, I thought I was going to plow through the snow clear to China!"
"The discharge went pretty close to my ear," announced Shep. And then, as he began to realize the escape he had had, he grew slightly pale.
"I tried to keep the gun barrel pointed to a safe place," said Giant. "But the fall came so quickly I had hardly time to think. I am thankful nobody was struck. Had I hit anybody I should never have forgiven myself!" And he shuddered.
"Be careful of the rest of the guns," said Whopper. "We don't want to be blown out of this hole—we prefer to climb out—at least I do."
They looked to their firearms, and then gazed around the locality in perplexity. The gully was long and narrow and both sides were covered with ice and snow. The ground above, also covered with ice and snow, was well out of their reach.
"Getting out is going to be no easy task," announced Snap. "Maybe we'll have to, walk to the end of the gulch."
"Wait, perhaps I can climb out—if one of you will give me a boost," said the doctor's son.
The others were willing to have Shep make the trial, and Snap and Whopper put down their guns and aided him by putting his feet in their hands. Shep caught hold of some bushes and began to haul himself up with all his strength.
"Hurrah! he is going to make it!" cried Giant, when snap! went the bushes, and down rolled the doctor's son and plunged once more into the snow.
"Whow!" he spluttered, as he arose and worked the snow from his collar and his coat sleeves. "No more of that for me! Snap, don't you want to try it?"