The ground now sloped down to a dark, gloomy ravine, with steep, slippery sides.
"A pretty deep gully, eh, fellows?" remarked Bob.
"How are we going to get across, I wonder?" spoke up Sam.
"There may be a place a bit further along."
"Hello, here's just the thing!" exclaimed Dick, a few moments later. "A piece of luck, I call it."
He pointed toward a tree straight ahead, which a storm had evidently sent crashing earthward. It formed a natural bridge across the chasm.
"Couldn't be better," observed Bob. "We'll get over in a jiffy."
Dick Travers unstrapped his snow-shoes and tossed them over to the opposite side.
"Here goes number one," he said, with a grin.
Carefully, Dick began making his way across.