Part 15 (1/2)
”That's so. Come on back. My, but it's getting dark suddenly.”
”It certainly is. Why, Jerry, I can't seem to see anything! Where are you?”
”Right here, but I can't see you. I wonder what the trouble is? Do you think there's going to be a blizzard?”
Fred was waving his hand in front of his face. To his horror he could not see it. Before his eyes was nothing but blackness. Then he uttered a cry of fear.
”What is it?” asked Jerry. ”What's the matter? I can't see you, Fred.”
”Jerry!” cried the young treasure hunter. ”We're blind!”
”Blind?”
”Yes, snow-blind. The sun s.h.i.+ning on the snow has dazzled and blinded us, and we're lost, a long way from the camp!”
CHAPTER XIII
IN THE WILDERNESS
Blindly groping about, the two boys located each other by the sounds of their voices.
”We mustn't get separated,” said Fred. ”That would be terrible. Oh, how my eyes hurt!”
”So do mine. It's just like once when some pepper blew in them. What shall we do?”
”I don't know. We must think. Wait a minute. I'll take my belt and fasten it to yours. Then we can't lose each other, and we'll have our hands free,” for in their despair the two lads were holding each other's hands.
Fred held his gun between his knees that it might not sink down in the snow. Then he fastened his belt to Jerry's. Neither of the boys could see a foot in advance. It was just as if there was a black veil in front of their faces, and, though the sun shone brilliantly on the white snow, they could not distinguish it.
”Now what shall we do?” asked Jerry. ”Have you any idea which way the camp is?”
”I remember that as we came away from it the wind was at our backs.”
”Then if we walk with the wind in our faces we ought to get somewhere near it.”
”That's so. Let's try it.”
Stepping out cautiously, for they could not see where they set their feet, the boys advanced. It was like walking in the darkest night.
”Do you think they'll come to look for us?” asked Jerry.
”Perhaps; but they won't think we're in this plight until quite late, if it ever does occur to them. Then it will be dark, and they can't see our tracks in the dark.”
”Maybe the Indians can.”
”Perhaps; but I doubt it.”
”Then what shall we do? If we have to stay out in the open all night we'll freeze to death. It's getting colder. I guess the sun must be going down.”