The horses did not like to face the blast, but the young cadets forced them about, and the unwilling steeds started down the slope. Protected though they were by their heavy winter clothing and overcoats, the two lads felt the cold bitterly. But they were too plucky to give up. The horses could not be urged to more than a walk, and, indeed, faster pace was not safe, as they did not know what the snow might conceal. As they went down the mountain side they kept a watch for the sight of any objects that would indicate a road, or tell them their whereabouts. But all they could see was an expanse of snow, a whirling, white cloud of flakes, with here and there the black trunks of trees standing up like grim sentinels. "We might as well be a thousand miles from nowhere," called Dick. "That's right," answered his companion. "I wonder if we're going straight?" "Isn't much choice. We'll be on level ground in a little while, anyhow. Then the going will be better." They emerged from the thickly wooded side of the big hill, and came upon a plain, which did not look familiar. It was open country, however, and this was better than being in the woods, though the cold wind had more of a sweep over it. "Now, which way?" asked Paul. "I've lost all sense of direction." "And I'm not much better. Suppose we let the horses go as they please? Maybe they'll have sense enough to head toward their stables." "Good idea, we'll do it." They let the reins hang loose on the necks of the animals. The steeds hesitated for a moment, sniffed the air, and then started off to the left. "I hope that's right, but it doesn't seem so," said Dick ruefully. "However, anything's better than standing still in this storm." There was no let-up to the blizzard, which fairly enveloped the lads in its icy grasp. They had traveled for perhaps a mile when Dick, who was a little in the lead, suddenly cried out: "Hi, Paul! Here's a house, anyhow!" "A house?" "Yes. Straight ahead." Paul looked through the whirling clouds of snow, and saw something dark looming up about thirty yards away. "Maybe it's a barn," he said. "Even that's all right; but where there's a barn there's most likely to be a house. I guess we're all right now." Their horses stumbled on, over the uneven ground, and soon another big object loomed up through the snow. "There's the house!" cried Dick. "Come on." They managed to urge their horses to a trot, and, a few moments later, were knocking at the door of a large, white farmhouse. A pretty girl who opened it exclaimed: "Come right in. I expect you're most frozen, aren't you?" "Pretty nearly," replied Dick, as he entered with Paul.