The heavy fog now enveloped all the peaks and ridges and filled every valley and chasm.

He could see only fifteen or twenty yards ahead along the muddy path, and the fine hail which gave every promise of becoming a storm of sleet stung continually.
The wind confined in the narrow gorge also uttered a hideous shrieking and moaning.
"Tests your nerve!" shouted Petty to Dick.

"There are hard things besides battles to stand, an' this is goin' to be one of the hard ones, but if you go through it all right you kin go through any number of the same kind all right, too.

Likely the sleet will be so thick that it will make a sheet of slippery ice for us comin' back.

Now, hosses that ain't got calks on thar shoes are pretty shore to slip an' fall, breakin' a leg or two, an' mebbe breakin' the necks of thar riders." Dick looked at him with some amazement.