"Better be moving, fellows," he said. "There are some pretty tough places to get down, and we want to spend the night in the cave again."
"That's so," said Bob, "and often it's worse than climbing."
"Makes me tired to think of coming all this way, and then find that you just can't reach the top," exclaimed Dick Travers.
He looked longingly toward the summit, whereupon the other boys faced about and began the homeward march.
"Wouldn't do you any good to plead for it," said Dave. "I'm satisfied with being this far out of the world."
The descent, across sloping fields of snow, over slippery hillocks and declivities, proved to be more difficult than they had anticipated. Many anxious moments were spent at places where a slip or misstep might have meant a terrible fall.
When the timber line was reached, Havens' trail was soon found, and the four plunged into the thick pine forest.
"It's going to be blacker than pitch," remarked Dave, cheerily.
"Who cares?" said Bob. "We won't get lost—that's sure."
"And I wouldn't mind if we did," put in Dick, gloomily. "I can't get over that camera."