They had recourse again to the chessmen and Paul's stories, and they reverted often to their friends and relatives at Wareville.
"At any rate," said Henry, "Kentucky is safe so long as this great snow lasts.

What holds us holds the Shawnees and the Miamis, too; they can't go south through it." "That's so," said Paul, with intense satisfaction, as he ran over all the chances of success or failure in their great task.
At the end of the third day the snow ceased.

It lay three feet deep on the level, and deeper in the hollows and gullies.

Then all the clouds floated away, the sun came out, and the whole world was a dazzling globe of white, so intense that it hurt Paul's eyes.
"We've got to guard against snow-blindness," said Shif'less Sol, "an' I'm thinkin' o' a plan that'll keep us from sufferin'." He procured small pieces of wood, and fitted them together so there would be only a narrow slit between.

These were placed over the eyes like spectacles, and fastened with deerskin string, tied behind the head.