Wouldn’t wantta loosh my job. You wouldn’t want me to loosh my job. But, Darling, ef you’ll jusht take a taxi and come over I’ll promish to say no.” The uncertain voice broke into song. “Have courage-my-boyto—shay—noo!”

Daryl suddenly hung up the receiver and when Alan came out of the spare room a moment later she was still standing there, her face white as death, her eyes wide with sorrow. His heart almost stood still with its sympathy for her. But, oh, he must not let her see that he had heard that conversation!

Lance appeared on the scene almost simultaneously, and Mother Devereaux with a sweet brave look in her eyes called them out to the table to get the coffee.

As they sat down Father Devereaux appeared from the kitchen and standing by the table lifted his hand and looking up said, “Father, we commend these two dear boys to Thy care as they go forth into Thy storm and cold on their errand of mercy. Keep them, guide them, and bless them. Bring them safely back to us without mishap if it be Thy will, Amen!”

Alan with quickly bent head listened to every word and felt suddenly as if God were in that house. That was what made it so different from other homes he had been seeing lately. God was there!

He lifted his head and looked at the quite old man, tall and strong, white-haired but glory-faced, and marveled.

Then the talk dropped to the immediate needs of the hour.

“Son,” said Father Devereaux, “I’ve got some equipment for you. Here’s a rope and you are to put one end around your waist and the other around this friend’s waist, and you are not to lose each other. Mind! Your lives may depend upon that. I don’t want to frighten you, but it is good to take precautions. We don’t want either of you lost in the snow.”

“Yes, sir,” said Lance between swallows of coffee, “that’s a good idea! We’ll do it.”

“And here’s another coil of rope,” went on the father. “When you come down the mountain it will be dark. You can sling this around a tree, and each take an end, and go down to the length of your tether, and there pull one end loose and sling it around another tree. In that way you will be able to keep your bearings better, and get back if you get off the trail. Understand?”

“Yes, sir. I understand, sir. You know we used to do that when we were kids out camping, Dad. If it’s only clothesline it’s very light. I’ll sling it over my shoulder. And I’ve four flashlights and some extra batteries. We’ll be all right.”

“Yes, and now just one more thing. Here are these two little candle-lanterns that you and Daryl used to have when you were children. Mother’s fixed them up with candles, and a string on each handle. When you are on your way up and come to the narrowest place by the cliff there, we want you to tie these lanterns to the trees on the side farthest from the cliff, then light the candles and close the lantern shades so the wind can’t blow them out. They’ll probably burn till you get back to them. The candles are good and thick. Now, is that giving you too much to carry, son?”

“No, Dad, and we’re packing a couple of the light snow shovels, at least for a ways.