292 THE CRUISE OF THE ROVER CARAVAN

There was silence everywhere around—a deep and
ominous silence.

But even as they listened for some sound to break
the stillness of this strange bleak country, little cir-
cular puffs of wind began to blow.

These would, at sea, have been called cat’s-paws.
Here they told of a coming gale and snowstorm.

“Go on now, Dick. Go on, good horse.”

“Gee up, Dick,” cried Polly sleepily, without ever
removing her head from off her shoulders.

The road became very narrow indeed, with a long row
of tall stones at each side of it; but, with the great
flakes of snow that now began to fall blowing in his
face, Douglas had some difficulty in keeping in the
centre, if indeed such a road can be said to have a
centre.

He had to stop many times and oft.

When he did so, he could hear down to the right
the roaring and hurtling of a stream among the
boulders.

Once he left Dick in the road, and went towards this.
It was a cafion or gully, with the brown burn dashing
and foaming far beneath.

God help them if they should get off the road and
fall over here!

The wind blew higher and higher Hans with
Buffles kept close in the rear of the great caravan ;
and it being now no longer safe to drive, the lamps
were lit inside and out, and brave young Douglas, stick
in hand, went down to lead poor Dick along.

Carleton, too, would have walked by his side, but his
stalwart cousin positively forbade him.