“Hurt?” replied Bracy laconically.
“Not a bit, six. Knocked some o’ the wind out o’ me, but I’m all right again now.”
“Forward!”
Bracy led on again, to find that the curve made by the snowfield rose more and more steeply, and the inclination to slip increased. But he stamped his feet down as he kept on, with his breathing growing quicker, and had the satisfaction of hearing his follower imitate his example, till he began to find that he must soon make another halt.
His spirits were rising, however, with an increasing hopeful feeling, for this was evidently the way to avoid pursuit or check. They were on the ice, and to this they must trust for the rest of their journey till they were well within reach of the Ghil Valley, to which they must descend.
Slip.
In an instant Bracy was down, starting on a rapid descent toward the place they had left; but at his first rush he heard beneath him a sharp blow delivered in the glazed surface, and he was suddenly brought up by the body of Gedge.
“Hold tight, sir! All right. I’ve got something to anchor us.”
“Ha!” ejaculated Bracy breathlessly. “It was so sudden.”
“Yes, sir; don’t give you much time to think. You’d better do as I do.”