It was after eight o’clock when Harry awoke and aroused the others. The sled, which had been placed upright in the doorway, was taken down, and in tumbled a great mass of snow.
“My gracious, boys, just look at this!” cried Harry. “The snow has drifted up against the hut until it is over our heads!”
What he said was strictly true. Outside of the doorway all was a mass of white. Even the campfire had been completely snowed under.
“We are in for it now, and no mistake,” murmured Boxy. “We won’t be able to get out for a month!”
“Nonsense!” cried Jack, cheerily. “Come, boys, we must shovel the snow away and get the fire started up for breakfast.”
“And how are we going to shovel snow without shovels?” queried Andy, dubiously.
For a moment a look of comical dismay went around the little group. Then Harry partly solved the problem.
“Let’s take the tin plates for a starter,” he said. “After breakfast we’ll try to cut out some wooden shovels with the ax and our pocket-knives.”
Fortunately, the tin plates made very respectable shovels, although using them nearly broke their backs. However, in the course of half an hour a space about six feet square in front of the hut was cleared, the snow being banked up all around, with the idea of later on building a snowhouse.
“The heat from the fire will make the snow pack better,” said Harry. “Now for breakfast. I am as hungry as a bear!”