"Thank fortune, the horses are all right," said Roger, after an inspection.
With the coming of comparatively good weather they watched eagerly for the return of the exploring party. The sheep-station keeper pointed out to them where the mountain trails ran and told them the party must come by way of one of them, for to descend in any other manner would be impossible.
"I really can't see how they are going to get down in such a snow," was Dave's comment. "Why, in some places it must be ten feet deep or more."
"The wind has swept some places clear," was Granbury Lapham's answer. "As far as possible they'll stick to those cleared spots."
"It must be fearfully slippery," said Roger. "And if any of them takes a tumble----" He did not finish.
The day was coming to a close when Dave, who was still on the watch, uttered a shout.
"I see somebody, up on yonder trail!" he cried. "One, two, three of them!"
All ran out and looked to where Dave pointed. Three men were coming along the trail slowly. Sometimes they would be in snow up to their waists, and then again they could be seen crawling cautiously over the icy rocks which had been swept clear of snow.
"If we only had a field-glass!" murmured Dave. He wondered if one of the men could be his father.
The men were only in sight a few minutes, then some projecting rocks hid them from view. The man in charge of the sheep-station was questioned, and he told them it would take the men on the mountain a good two hours to get down to the house, as the trail wound around considerably to avoid several dangerous cliffs.
"Let us go out to meet them," said Dave. "I can't stand this hanging around doing nothing."
"All right, I'll go with you," answered his chum.
Granbury Lapham was also anxious; and in a few minutes the three started out, along a road the sheep-station keeper pointed out. It was now dark, but they kept to the road with ease, as it ran between several patches of stunted pines.
No words can describe the feeling that filled Dave's heart. Was he to meet his father at last? At times he trembled like a leaf just to think of it.
His eyes were on the alert, and after trudging along for half an hour he made out several forms approaching down the mountain trail. He set up a shout and so did his companions, and presently came an answering call.