Lancy’s heart ached for both of them.  Yet to leave them seemed their only chance of life, for it grew colder every moment.  He must find help soon, or they would not survive the night.  Bending over Elsie, he kissed her tenderly, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Elsie.  I will find someone to send to you before I give up; so don’t fret.  We’ll see mother again, never fear.”  And bending over to see that she was well covered with the robes, he whispered, “Good-bye, Elsie; pray for help,” and he kissed her again.

Passing round to the other side of the sleigh, he secured the robes around Dexie so that the wind could not displace them; then putting his face down close to hers, said, “I am sorry to have brought you into such danger, Dexie; but you know I did not mean to.  Will you kiss me good-bye?”

Dexie lifted her face at once, her heart strangely stirred by the tone in which he spoke; but she realized their danger, and this might be, indeed, good-bye.

“Do not fret about us, Lancy,” she said.  “Think only of yourself, for I am so afraid you will be lost in the storm.”

“Never fear, Dexie.  But remember this, girls:  Don’t go to sleep; keep awake, no matter how hard it may be to do so.  Get up in the sleigh and jump and scream rather than run the risk of falling asleep here in the cold.  Remember, now!  Good-bye, girls; and may Heaven keep you both safe,” and Lancy disappeared in the storm, leaving a comforting feeling behind him with his last words.

“Oh, Dexie! do you think we shall ever see Lancy again?” Elsie asked, in a choking voice.  “Just think how they will fret at home if anything happens to us!”

Dexie could not control her voice just then, so she made no reply.

“I wonder if the poor horse will drown or freeze to death; but perhaps it is warmer in the water than in the wind,” and Elsie’s thoughts turned again to Lancy.

Then they put their arms around each other, and talked in a weary, desultory way.  But it was hard to talk when there was nothing pleasant in their thoughts, and they were so cold, so very cold.

Presently Elsie’s head fell over on Dexie’s shoulder, and it aroused Dexie to a sense of their danger.  Was she really falling asleep, and allowing Elsie to do so as well, after the caution Lancy had given?  She lifted Elsie’s head gently, saying, “Sit up, Elsie, dear.  I’m afraid you are getting sleepy, and you must not go to sleep, you know.”

“Oh, do—­leave me—­alone!  I’m—­so tired.”

“But I can’t leave you, Elsie; you are getting sleepy, and don’t you remember what Lancy said?” and Dexie lifted her up and gave her a gentle shake.

“Oh, do stop—­just a moment.”

“No, not a moment!”

Dexie was fully aroused now, and realized Elsie’s danger.

“Come, Elsie, you must sit up, for I do not intend to let you sleep;” and she shook her roughly in her alarm, for Elsie had laid her head on the seat, in spite of all her efforts to arouse her.