The next day they overtook the Sockets, who had had a small breakdown. They, too, had met the Indians and had given them a few things. "I was afraid they'd steal some of the children if we didn't give them something," said Mrs. Socket. "They looked at the girls so suspiciously." "If they stole me, I'd die, I know I should!" declared Mary Socket. She was a tall, thin girl, but rather good-looking, and with a head of heavy brown hair. The whole party proceeded together the next day, and that night each of the men and boys took his turn at staying on guard. "Two hours on duty and eight off isn't so bad," said Mark. "We can stand that easily enough." "Eight hours of sleep is enough for anybody," returned Bob. "I like to rest my feet as much as I like to sleep," said Si. The constant walking over the rough rocks hurt his feet not a little. Mark did not mind it so much, being used to the hard city pavements. The snowstorm that had been promised started in the next day about noon. There was a gentle breeze at the time, blowing from the northward. The snow was not very thick, so they continued to go on until nightfall, when they reached the beginning of the pass proper, at an altitude many hundreds of feet above the level of the sea. "I wish we were through the pass," said Mark. "I shan't mind the snow so much when we are coming down from the mountains." "Even then it will be bad enough," said Maybe Dixon. "I'd rather be in camp at the foot of the mountains when real winter hits us." During the night the storm cleared away, much to their satisfaction. The fall of snow was only a few inches deep and this did not interfere very materially with their progress, although it made the trail rather slippery and treacherous in places. "Want to be careful where you walk," said Josiah Socket, who was in advance with Maybe Dixon. "It won't pay to git a tumble on sech rocks as these." Bob and Mark were alongside of the mule. Darling had recovered somewhat from his lameness and was doing remarkably well, much to their satisfaction. "What's the matter?" called back Bob to Si, who was in the rear. "Foot's sore again," was the doleful answer. "Can we do anything for you, Si?" asked Mark, kindly. "Nary a thing that I know on," grumbled the former farm lad. "I reckon I've got to grin and bear it." And he shut his teeth hard. "It's a pity Darling is so loaded up. Otherwise you might ride on his back," said Bob. "And have him pitch me over his head on the rocks? No, thank you. I'll keep on walking and get there somehow," said Si. The way kept growing worse constantly, until they had to make certain of one step before they ventured the next. "Thank goodness it isn't snowing," said Mrs. Socket. "If it was, I don't know what we would do." "They tell me the pass is better a bit further on," said Maybe Dixon. "We'll have just a little more climbing to do, and then the worst of it will be over."