We were sadly mistaken; by the time
we had gone another half-mile we were in the thick of a
bewildering, blinding snowstorm. But it was by now just as far
back to Cousin Mattie's as it was to Uncle Alec's, so we struggled
on, growing more frightened at every step. We could hardly face
the stinging snow, and we could not see ten feet ahead of us. It
had turned bitterly cold and the tempest howled all around us in
white desolation under the fast-darkening night. The narrow path
we were trying to follow soon became entirely obliterated and we
stumbled blindly on, holding to each other, and trying to peer
through the furious whirl that filled the air. Our plight had
come upon us so suddenly that we could not realize it. Presently
Peter, who was leading the van because he was supposed to know the
path best, stopped.
"I can't see the road any longer," he shouted. "I don't know
where we are."
We all stopped and huddled together in a miserable group. Fear
filled our hearts. It seemed ages ago that we had been snug and
safe and warm at Cousin Mattie's. Cecily began to cry with cold.
Dan, in spite of her protests, dragged off his overcoat and made
her put it on.
"We can't stay here," he said. "We'll all freeze to death if we
do.
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