It was with the utmost difficulty that Doctor Churchill kept the road.  Only the fact that the storm was showing signs of decreasing, and that now and then came moments when he could see more clearly the outlying indications of fence and tree and infrequent habitation assured him that he had not lost the way.

“Hark!” cried Charlotte, suddenly, as they plowed along.

For the instant the wind had lulled.  Doctor Churchill stopped his horses, and the three held their breath to listen.  After a brief interval came the faint, far toot of a horn.  Then, away to the left, a light suddenly flashed, vanished, and flashed again.

“There they are!” cried three exultant voices.

“But how shall we get to them?” shouted Just, instantly alive with excitement.  “Why, they’re a mile away!  There’s no road over there, nor any houses.  They’re right out in the fields.”

Then the sifting snow shut down again.  The three looked at one another in the yellow glare from the automobile headlight.

* * * * *

CHAPTER VI

“Don’t they see our light?” Charlotte asked, eagerly.

“I think perhaps they have seen it,” Doctor Churchill answered, “and that’s why they were blowing their horns.  Probably some of them will start toward us.  If they’re not stuck, they’ll begin to drive this way.  I believe the thing to do will be for Charlotte to stay here in the sleigh, keeping the headlight pointed just to the left of that big tree—­I noticed that was where the flash of their fire came—­and for Just and me to start across the fields.  I’ll turn the horses with their backs to the wind and blanket them.  Then—­hold on, I’ve a better plan.  Let’s make a fire of our own.  That will insure Charlotte’s keeping warm.”

“Everything’s too wet,” objected Just.  “That crowd must have had a time getting green wood to burn.”

“We can do it.”  Doctor Churchill was feeling among the robes at his feet.  “I thought of it before we started, and put in a kerosene-can and some newspapers.  Hatchet, too.”

Just got out of the sleigh and waded away toward a thick growth of underbrush along the side of the road.

In ten minutes a roaring fire was leaping into the descending snowfall.  A pile of brush and some broken fence-rails were left with Charlotte, the horses made as snug as possible, and then the two others jumped the fence and plunged off into the snow.

Guided by glimpses of the apparently fitful fire of the sleighing party, Doctor Churchill and Just made their way.  Sometimes the course was comparatively free from drifts; again they had to wallow nearly to their waists.

“Confounded long way!” grunted Just.  “Good thing we’re both tough and strong.  Except for Jeff, there aren’t any athletes in the Houghton party.”

“Don’t I see somebody coming toward us?” Doctor Churchill asked, presently.