Just then the cry sounded again, and this time it was undeniably plainer. Robert shouted in reply and was overjoyed to hear it once more increased in volume. He hurried toward it, shouting and listening alternately. A moment later Taggert strode from out of the white veil. “The wandering echo found at last,” Robert greeted him, while they pounded each other on the back in joyous relief. “Where in Sam Hill are we?” Taggert wanted to know. “Question is, in which direction is the _Sphere_?” cried Robert. “Well put. What’s the answer?” “Have you any idea from what direction you slid out here?” “Nope. Have you?” They stared at each other blankly. Then the ridiculousness of their cross-questioning struck them and they laughed together. For the moment the seriousness of their plight was forgotten. The white flakes swirled about them, settling upon their heads and shoulders till they looked like snow-men. An idea suddenly occurred to Robert. “This storm arrived from ahead of us when we were on our way back to the _Sphere_, didn’t it?” he asked. “Believe it did,” agreed Taggert. “Well, then, unless the direction of the wind has changed, we have only to push on at right angles to it, with it blowing on our left, to eventually come upon the shore which we left.” “Right you are!” exclaimed Taggert, after a moment’s reflection. So they pushed ahead in the direction indicated for several minutes, making fair progress in spite of the rapidly increasing wind which swept the smooth ice clean, leaving a difficult footing. Each minute they expected to come upon the slope up the shore, where they hoped to find a crevice in the raised cakes which would offer sufficient footing to scramble up the slick incline to the ground beyond. Still the blank wall of driven white revealed nothing but the level floor of ice, ever stretching a few feet ahead of them as they shuffled along. “Seems as if we should have raised something by this time,” said Taggert presently. “The wind must have shifted,” said Robert. “If it hasn’t changed much, though, we should reach the shore anyway soon.” So they continued onward, half blinded by the snow, the bitter wind whipping round their bodies. With each step the hope of reaching the _Sphere_ became weaker. The princess’ anxiety recurred to Robert as he plodded doggedly on ahead of Taggert. He wondered dully whether he should ever see her again. Well, at any rate, she was once more safely within her own country. He was thankful for that much. His reflections were cut short suddenly as he sprawled forward upon the ice, tripping up Taggert, who was following him closely. Caught unawares, Robert fell on all fours, knocking the breath out of him. “’T’ell!” spluttered Taggert, scrambling up.