"Gone home likely; got more sense than we," said Mary. "Why doan't ye get up, Peter?"
"Get up wi' my two legs broke!" Peter replied in disgust.
"Dear life, man, get up!" Mary went on, with real alarm. "If us doan't get up soon us'll be stone dead carpses when us gets home."
"I'll try, Mary, I'll try," said Peter.
"Come up here, Peter; there be a sheltered spot over agin them rocks," said Mary.
"There be a sheltered spot down here," Peter answered; "'tis easier vor yew to roll down than vor me to climb up."
When the question had been argued, Mary went down; that is to say, she groped and grovelled through the snow, half-rolling, half-sliding, until she reached the shelter to which Peter had dragged himself. It was a small cleft, a chimney, mountaineers would have called it, in the centre of a rock-mass which made a small tor on the side of the cleave. Normally, this chimney acted as a drain for the rock-basin above, but it was then frozen up and dry. Peter was right at the back, huddled up as he could never have been had any bones been broken. When Mary appeared he dragged her in; she was almost too stout to pass inside, but as he placed her she made an excellent protection for him against the storm. Mary realised this, and suggested they should change places; but Peter pointed out that in his shattered condition any movement might prove fatal.
Presently Mary began to cry, realizing the gravity of their position. The snow was descending more thickly than ever, drifting up the side of the cleave and choking the entrance to their cleft. Fortunately the night was not very cold, and they were both warmly clad, while the snow which was threatening to bury them was itself a protection. Help could not possibly reach them while the night lasted; no one would know what had befallen them, and they were unable to walk. When Mary began to cry Peter abused her, until his thoughts also began to trouble him.
"Think they'll put what's on my notice-board on my tombstone?" he inquired.
"Now doan't ye talk about tombstoanes, doan't ye now," implored Mary tearfully.