So to the first they bent their footsteps. It stood with its back to the east, and on the west it was entirely covered with great banks of snow, some of them shaped like waves on the sea-shore, that are just on the eve of breaking.
It took the keeper and two men nearly an hour to break through the barrier and find the doorway.
They could see nothing when they opened it, for all were partially snow-blind.
But they groped around, and called the shepherd by name; then convinced that he was not there, dead or alive, they came sadly away, and joined the group outside.
There was still the other hut to be examined, and this was a good mile higher up the hill.
Thither, therefore, the party now wended their way, but so completely covered up did they find it, that another long hour of hard work was spent in reaching the doorway.
Like the last which they had explored, it was cold, dark, and deserted.
No one had any hope now of finding Sandie alive, but after a hurried luncheon they spread themselves out across the hill and moor somewhat after the fashion of skirmishers, and the ground was thoroughly searched.
But all in vain.
No frozen corpse was found.