“It won’t do to lose even a plate,” said Andy. “For there are just enough for the crowd and no more.” “If this keeps on, we’ll have a blizzard!” gasped Harry. “It fairly takes one’s breath away!” “Have to keep your mouth shut or you’ll swallow a lot of snow, too!” put in Boxy. “By the looks of things around us, one would imagine we were out on the plains of Montana!” “The best thing we can do is to stop talking and fight our way to the shore,” remarked Jack, seriously. “The first thing you know, we’ll be turned around, and we won’t know in what direction the shore is.” Once again they moved forward. The snow beat on the right sides of their faces and filled their right ears, and, unconsciously, they turned a little away, and thus took a course which led them partly up the lake instead of directly across. By twelve o’clock they were nowhere near the woods they knew was beyond the edge of the lake. All around them were ice and snow. The wind had let up a bit, but the snow was whirling down thicker than ever. “I’m getting played out,” said Andy. “And I’m hungry,” added Boxy. “And I’m a bit of both,” put in Harry. “Let us rest a few minutes and have a bite to eat.” Pickles was more than willing, and at once went to work to get out crackers and cheese. Jack looked on with a doubtful face. “We’ll have a bite, but don’t waste time resting,” he said. “We must go on, or night will overtake us while we are still on the lake.” “Why, it’s only twelve o’clock!” cried Andy. “That’s so, but the shore is still a good way off, and if we get lost----” “Oh, we won’t get lost,” put in Boxy. “We all know just where the shore is.” “And where is it?” questioned Jack, still more seriously. “Right over there,” and Boxy pointed with his arm. “Why, no, it’s over in that direction,” cried Andy, pointing nearly at right angles with Boxy. “You are both wrong,” put in Harry. “It’s over here,” and his arm went up in still a third direction. “Boxy am right,” said Pickles. “I am inclined to think Harry is right,” remarked Jack. “But didn’t we come that way?” insisted Boxy, in surprise. “Yes, we came from that way, but we have been turning our backs to the wind, and going up the lake instead of across.” “Maybe the wind has shifted.” “I doubt it,” said Harry. “I don’t believe the wind has shifted much,” said Andy. “But I was sure the shore lay off in that direction. Jack is right, we had better be moving off without delay. We don’t want to get lost in this snowstorm out here on the lake.” They all agreed to this, but in what direction should they turn? It was finally decided to try the course Harry and Jack advocated, as they were looked on as natural leaders of the party. The remainder of the crackers and cheese brought out by Pickles was quickly eaten, and they set off. It was growing cooler again, and the wind blew the snow in blinding masses into their faces. Onward they skated, until the drifts became almost impassable.