"If it only would not get dark so quickly," Tavia sobbed, for, indeed, the girl was almost crying—the matter had become very serious—darkness, snowdrifts and wilderness.
"Wait!" called Tom, feeling that Tavia might not be so alarmed if all were closer together.
Nat and Dorothy stood until the others came up.
Then all four trudged on again. However, could they cover a half mile at that rate?
"We ought to have brought an auto lamp," said Nat.
No sooner had he uttered the words than he slipped, Dorothy fell with him, Tom and Tavia tumbled, full drive, after them, and all were plunged into a hole deep enough to terrify the girls and even to alarm the boys.
"Well," exclaimed Tom, as quickly as he could get speech, "that hole was covered up with a light blanket."
Tavia and Dorothy succeeded in getting to their feet almost as promptly as did the boys, but the shock and the heavy snow had now almost exhausted both.
"Oh," sighed Dorothy, "I don't see how we can ever walk a half mile in this?"
"Nor I," answered Nat "We've got to turn back. We can have shelter, at least, in the castle, and there's likely to be some food in the machine. Norah always pokes a bundle in for a trip like this."