Shivering with the cold, the troopers again found their saddles and pressed grimly forward on the trail.

Hamlin, with five others, led the way along a beaten track which had been trampled by the passing herd of Indian ponies and plainly marked by the trailing poles of numerous wicky-ups.
This led straight away into the south across the valley of the Canadian, on to the plains beyond.

The snow here was a foot deep on a level, and in places the going was heavy.

As they advanced, the weather moderated somewhat, and the upper crust became soft.

Before them stretched the dreary level of the plains, broken by occasional ravines and little isolated patches of trees.