Were it blowing, I should say that there was less danger in waiting here than in crossing the mountain." The meal was quickly eaten.

Bathalda slung a large piece of bear's flesh over his shoulder, and they started.

So bright was the moonlight that they had no more difficulty in climbing than if it had been day, and after six hours of severe toil they again came down upon the forest, on the other side of the mountains.
They proceeded among the trees for some little distance, till they came to some very thick undergrowth, where Bathalda thought it would be perfectly safe to light a fire.

This he accordingly did, as Roger said he would rather run any danger than go without a fire.
In spite of the exertions they had made, they were chilled to the bone.

Their clothes were stiff with the frozen moisture from their bodies, and the cotton mantles offered but small protection against the cold.