unconcerned as if all that had been going on had no

reference to him whatever.

The cause of his safety was simple enough. The

precipice beside which he stood when the avalanche

occurred overhung its base at that point considerably,

so that when the snow descended a clear space of

several feet wide was left all along its base. Here

Charlie had remained in perfect comfort until his

friends dug him out.

Congratulating themselves not a little on having saved