"We must remove him as speedily as possible for the sake of the universe.

Come on! I mean to lead." He emerged from the clump and took his way toward the second cluster, digging a heavy hunting knife into the ice whenever he felt that he was about to slip.

Reed was just behind him, breathing hard from the climb, and then came the whole detachment.

Warner felt a momentary shiver lest the guerrilla see them.

If he caught them on the steep ice between the two cedar clumps he could decimate them with ease.
But fortune was kind and they breathed mighty sighs of relief as they drew into the second network of silver, where they lay close watching for Slade, who had fired three times into the valley while they were on the way.
He had gone farther down the ridge, but they saw him partially as he kneeled for another shot.