CHAPTER X.THE CHINOOK.
One night in late March a sullen, faraway roar awakened Thurston in his bunk.

He turned over and listened, wondering what on earth was the matter.

More than anything it sounded like a hurrying freight train only the railroad lay many miles to the north, and trains do not run at large over the prairie.

Gene snored peacefully an arm's length away.

Outside the snow lay deep on the levels, while in the hollows were great, white drifts that at bedtime had glittered frostily in the moonlight.