"No, don't worry about me, dear. I'm only—out of breath!"
"I positively believe you're getting stout!" laughed Alice, and Ruth was glad that she could laugh, even in the face of impending danger. "You must take more exercise," she went on.
"I'm getting plenty of it now," observed Ruth. "Oh, but it is hard going in this snow!"
Together they struggled on, and finally reached the rock. As Alice had surmised, the big boulder did give them shelter, and they were grateful for it, as they were quite exhausted by their battle with the storm.
"What a relief!" sighed Alice, as she leaned back against the big stone.
"Oh, isn't it!" agreed Ruth. "But, Alice, if we are so played out by that little trip, how are we ever going to get back to Elk Lodge?"
"I don't know, dear," was the hesitating answer. "But we must get back. Maybe the snow will stop after a little, and we can see our way. That is really all we need—to see the path. I'm sure I've been out in worse storms than this."
"It is bad enough," responded Ruth, apprehensively. "See how it snows!"
Indeed the white flakes were coming down with increased violence, and the wind swept and howled about the rock with a melancholy sound. The girls huddled close together.
"Can you ever forgive me for bringing you out in such weather as this?" begged Alice, self-reproachfully.