The region through which the path led at the time when the snow came on, was a tract of flat land on the summit of the mountainous range, with small and scattered trees here and there upon it.  The best thing, probably, for the travelers to have done in the emergency would have been to have turned round the moment it began to snow, and go back as fast as possible by the way that they came, as long as they were sure of the path, and then to wait until the fallen snow had melted.  If they found then that the snow did not melt, so that they could see the path again, it would be better to return altogether, as their chance of being able to follow the path back toward their home would be much greater than that of pursuing it forward; for they might expect to find some guidance, in going back, by their recognition of the place which they had passed in ascending.

Forester, however, did not happen to think of this; and so when it began to snow, his only immediate desire was to go forward as fast as possible, so as to get into the woods again where he and Marco would be in some measure under shelter.

Marco finding that Forester appeared somewhat anxious, began to feel some sentiment of fear himself.

“Who would have thought,” said he, “that we should have got caught out in this snow-storm?”

“Oh, it is not a snow-storm,” replied Forester.  “It is only a little snow flurry.  It will be over in a few minutes.”

“How do you know that it is not going to be a snow-storm?” asked Marco.

“Because storms never come out of the west,” replied Forester.

It snowed, however, faster and faster, and the ground soon began to be entirely whitened.  Forester pressed on, but he soon found himself at a loss for his way.  The air was so filled with the descending flakes, that he could see only a very short distance before him.  The view of the forests and mountains was cut off on every side, and nothing presented itself to the eye but the dim forms of the rocks and trees which were near.  These, too, were indistinct and shapeless.  The ground was soon entirely covered, and all hope of finding the path entirely disappeared.  Forester went back then a short distance, endeavoring to retrace his steps.  He followed the foot-prints a little way, but all traces of them were soon obliterated.  When he found that the steps could no longer be seen, he went toward a tree which he saw rising dimly at a little distance before him.  The tree proved to be a large hemlock, with wide-spreading branches.  There was a place under this tree where the ground was bare, having been sheltered from the snow by the branches of the tree.  There were some rocks too lying under this tree.  Forester walked up to them and sat down.  Marco followed his example.

“Well, Marco,” said Forester, “we are really lost.”

“And what are we going to do?” asked Marco, with a countenance of great concern.

“The first thing is,” said Forester, “to open the knapsack, and see what there is inside that is good to eat.”