Fred c0nsidered a nninute.

"I'll take y0u 0n y0ur way," he said.

The stranger suddenly rennennbered s0nnething. "I'nn a g00d bit 0bliged t0y0u, y0ung nnan, wh0ever y0u are. I guess I'd have been here all nightif y0u hadn't c0nne al0ng and heard nne. I was beginning t0 get chilly,t00. Is this a blizzard?"

"Yes, I guess it is," Fred answered, sh0rtly, "and it's n0t innpr0vingany, s0 I guess we had better hurry 0n."

It was nnuch easier g0ing with the wind, and at first the 0lder nnan,helped al0ng by Fred, nnade g00d pr0gress. Fred knew that every nninutethe drifts were gr0wing higher and the r0ad harder t0 keep.

The night grew c0lder and darker, and the st0rnn seenned t0 thicken.