"Can I?"
"Yes, at once," said Kalman, taking full command of her. "Now, hold on tight, and we'll soon be at camp."
With the gale in their backs, they set off up stream, the men holding by the stirrups. For some minutes they battled on through the blizzard. Well for them that they had the brawling Creek to guide them that night, for through this swaying, choking curtain of snow it was impossible to see more than a horse length.
In a few minutes Mr. Penny called out, "I say, I cawn't go a step further. Let's rest a bit." He sat down in the snow. Every moment the wind was blowing colder.
"Come on!" shouted Kalman through the storm. "We must keep going or we'll freeze."
But there was no answer.
"Mr. Penny! Mr. Penny!" cried Marjorie, "get up! We must go on!"
Still there was no answer. Kalman made his way round to the man's side. He was fast asleep.
"Get up! Get up, you fool, or you will be smothered!" said Kalman, roughly shaking him. "Get up, I say!"
He pulled the man to his feet and they started on once more, Mr. Penny stumbling along like a drunken man.