At the end of half an hour Mukoki, who was in the lead that he might set a pace according to his strength, quickened his steps.

Rod was close beside him now, his eyes ceaselessly searching the chasm wall for signs that would tell him when they were nearing the rift.

Suddenly Wabi halted in his tracks and gave a low hiss that stopped them.
"It's snowing!" he whispered.
Mukoki lifted his face.

Great solitary flakes of snow fell upon it.
"She snow hard--soon.

Mebby cover snow-shoe trails!" "And if it does--we're safe!" There was a vibrant joy in Wabi's voice.
For a full minute Mukoki held his face to the sky.
"Hear small wind over chasm," he said.
"She come from south.