“The cat’s claws are sheathed now,” he said; “but

After a cup of coffee and a little hard bread, it was decided we

should return to the main camp near the Mission, for we were now

confident that Maloney was delayed by the snow, and safe enough on

the other side of the mountains. At all events he was beyond aid

from us, for the impassable snowdrifts could not be overcome with the

means in our possession. It turned out that our suppositions as to

the cause of his delay were correct. He had met with the same

difficulties that confronted us, and had been compelled to go into