"We are going to have our hands full keeping to the road now," said Owen, shading his eyes with his palm. "I must say I can't see much."
"The horses ought to know their own tracks."
"That is true."
Fifteen minutes went by, and the snow kept growing thicker and thicker. Owen was on the point of pulling up, when of a sudden one of the horses gave a snort and reared up violently.
The act was so unexpected that Dale and Owen were completely astonished. Both clutched the lines and held on while the sleigh began to go backwards in a semicircle.
"Whoa, Billy!" roared Owen. "Whoa! What in the world is the matter with you?"
"A bear!" cried Dale, and stared ahead. He was right; a bear had appeared in the road, directly in front of the team. Now the second horse began to rear and snort, and the sleigh moved back faster than ever.
"A bear!" cried Dale.