It was no easy matter so laden making their way over the hills and through the deep drifts. Mr Humphreys took his share of the labour; but it was two hours from the time when they started before they arrived at the spot where the flag was waving, and the night was already closing in.
Mr Humphreys hurried forward to the flag; he knelt down beside it.
“Are you still alive, Dick?—it is I, your father!”
“Yes, father, we are all alive, and we shall be all right now you have come. Don’t get too near the stick; we are afraid of the hole closing up, and smothering us.”
“Which side is the door,” Mr Humphreys asked, “so that we can dig that way?”
“There is no door, father; but you had better dig from below, because of the wall.”
“There must be a door,” Mr Humphreys said to himself, as he rejoined the men. “There can’t be a hut without a door; Dick must be a little lightheaded, and no wonder. Now, lads, let us set to work from below.”
The five men were soon at work, throwing aside the snow. In a short time the other parties arrived.
Mr Humphreys had brought with him a stock of candles. These were lit and stuck in the snow, where, as there was no wind, they burnt steadily, affording sufficient light for the search. The work was all the more difficult from the lightness of the snow, as the sides fell in like sand as they worked upon it, and they were obliged to make a very broad cutting.
At last there was a cheer, as they struck the ground.