When they rejoined the others, it looked as if his remark was justified. Gillane declared if they could not cross the ice-fall they must stop and freeze; Stevens owned he was exhausted and doubted if he could reach the gully. Jimmy would sooner have risked the fall, since he was persuaded the other line would not carry them down, but if Stannard thought the line might go, he was willing to try it.
They fronted the laborious climb to the snow-field, and soon after they got there mist blew across the slope. The party was now drawn out in a straggling row and by and by Deering stopped and looked about. He knew two or three were behind him, but he saw nobody.
"Where are the boys?" he shouted.
Peter said he had not seen Stevens and Dillon for some time, but they were no doubt pushing along and the party's track was plain.
"I'm going back," said Deering. "Watch out for Jimmy."
He plunged into the mist and presently found Stevens sitting in the snow. Dillon was with the lad and when Deering arrived urged him to get up. Stevens dully refused and said there was no use in the others bothering; he could go no farther. Deering pulled him up and shoved him along.
"You're going to the gully, anyhow," he shouted with a jolly laugh. "When we get you there, you can sit down and slide."
Dillon helped and some time afterwards they came up with Peter.
"Where's Jimmy?" Deering asked in a sharp voice.
"Stannard reckoned he was near the spot he'd marked. He took a rope, and Gillane and Jimmy went along. They allowed I must stop to watch out for you."