“Can we make camp before it gets too dark?”
“It will be hard work. But once on the creek the darkness ought not to bother us. But what of these fellows?” Jack continued, in a low tone. “We can’t leave them behind.”
“And we can’t very well take them along,” said Harry.
“If it wasn’t for the others wondering what had become of us, we might stay here over night and go back in the morning,” Jack went on, after a thoughtful pause. “This seems a very good place to roost.”
“But the others would think we had missed our way in the snow and got lost, and they would worry themselves sick. We said nothing about remaining away over night,” replied Harry.
“We might leave these fellows here until to-morrow, and then come back and show them the way,” Jack suggested.
“Don’t leave us alone, please don’t!” cried Spencer, who was the greatest coward of the party. “Take us with you!”
“You are not strong enough to walk to our camp,” said Harry. “You would play out before you got half-way.”
“Well, don’t leave us, that’s good fellows,” said Dixon.
“One of us might stay and the other might go back,” suggested Harry. “And then in the morning the party from here could start down the creek.”