Ellen was turning over Alice's last words and thinking that little girls were not _always_ the cheerfullest and happiest creatures in the world, when Alice suddenly exclaimed, "It is snowing! Come, Ellen, we must make haste now!" and set off at a quickened pace. Quick as they might, they had gone not a hundred yards when the whole air was filled with the falling flakes, and the wind which had lulled for a little now rose with greater violence and swept round the mountain furiously. The storm had come in good earnest, and promised to be no trifling one. Alice and Ellen ran on, holding each other's hands and strengthening themselves against the blast, but their journey became every moment more difficult. The air was dark with the thick-falling snow; the wind seemed to blow in every direction by turns, but chiefly against them, blinding their eyes with the snow, and making it necessary to use no small effort to keep on their way. Ellen hardly knew where she went, but allowed herself to be pulled along by Alice, or as well pulled _her_ along; it was hard to say which hurried most. In the midst of this dashing on down the hill Alice all at once came to a sudden stop. "Where's the Captain?" said she. "I don't know," said Ellen. "I haven't thought of him since we left Mrs. Vawse's." Alice turned her back to the wind and looked up the road they had come--there was nothing but wind and snow there; how furiously it blew! Alice called, "Pussy!" "Shall we walk up the road a little way, or shall we stand and wait for him here?" said Ellen, trembling half from exertion and half from a vague fear of she knew not what. Alice called again;--no answer, but a wild gust of wind and snow that drove past. "I can't go on and leave him," said Alice; "he might perish in the storm." And she began to walk slowly back, calling at intervals, "Pussy!--kitty!--pussy!"--and listening for an answer that came not. Ellen was very unwilling to tarry, and nowise inclined to prolong their journey by going backwards. She thought the storm grew darker and wilder every moment. "Perhaps Captain stayed up at Mrs. Vawse's," she said, "and, didn't follow us down." "No," said Alice, "I am sure he did. Hark!--wasn't that he?" "I don't hear anything," said Ellen, after a pause of anxious listening. Alice went a few steps further. "I hear him!" she said; "I hear him! poor kitty!"--and she set off at a quick pace up the hill. Ellen followed, but presently a burst of wind and snow brought them both to a stand. Alice faltered a little at this, in doubt whether to go up or down. But then to their great joy Captain's far-off cry was heard, and both Alice and Ellen strained their voices to cheer and direct him. In a few minutes he came in sight, trotting hurriedly along through the snow, and on reaching his mistress he sat down immediately on the ground without offering any caress; a sure sign that he was tired. Alice stooped down and took him up in her arms.