It was deep moonless night when Alice woke with a start. For a few
moments she lay wondering what had roused her--then a bright light
flashed and her companion screamed.
"Who's there!" demanded the girl.
In that instant flare she saw a man's face, young, smooth, with dark
eyes gleaming beneath a broad hat. He stood like a figure of bronze
while his match was burning, then exclaimed in breathless wonder:
"Great Peter's ghost! a woman!" Finally he stepped forward and looked
down upon the white, scared faces as if uncertain of his senses. "Two of
them!" he whispered. As he struck his second match he gently asked:
"Would you mind saying how you got here?"
Alice spoke first. "We came up with a geological survey. I got hurt and
they had to leave us behind."
"Where's your party gone?"
"Up to the glaciers."
"When did they leave?"
"Yesterday morning."
"When do you expect them back?"
"Not for two or three days."