"Gentlemen"--Peck turned to the others--"when we git to Mrs.Apperthwaite's, jest stop outside along the fence a minute. I reckenwe'll pick up a recruit."

Shivering, we took up our way again in single file, stumbling throughdrifts that had deepened incredibly within the hour. The wind wasstraight against us, and so stingingly sharp and so laden with thedriving snow that when we reached Mrs. Apperthwaite's gate (which weapproached from the north, not passing Beasley's) my eyes were so fullof smarting tears I could look at only blurred planes of light dancingvaguely in the unlitness, instead of brightly lit windows.