Obenreizer，walkingtoandfrointhegallerywithoutceasing，signedtoVendaletohelphimunbucklehisknapsack。Theycouldseeeachother，butcouldnothaveheardeachotherspeak。Vendalecomplying，Obenreizerproducedhisbottleofwine，andpouredsomeout，motioningVendaletotakethatforwarmth’ssake，andnotbrandy。Vendaleagaincomplying，Obenreizerseemedtodrinkafterhim，andthetwowalkedbackwardsandforwardssidebyside;bothwellknowingthattorestorsleepwouldbetodie。
Thesnowcamedrivingheavilyintothegallerybytheupperendatwhichtheywouldpassoutofit，iftheyeverpassedout;forgreaterdangerslayontheroadbehindthemthanbefore。Thesnowsoonbegantochokethearch。Anhourmore，anditlaysohighastoblockouthalfthereturningdaylight。Butitfrozehardnow，asitfell，andcouldbeclamberedthroughorover。Theviolenceofthemountainstormwasgraduallyyieldingtosteadysnowfall。Thewindstillragedatintervals，butnotincessantly;andwhenitpaused，thesnowfellinheavyflakes。
Theymighthavebeentwohoursintheirfrightfulprison，whenObenreizer，nowcrunchingintothemound，nowcreepingoveritwithhisheadboweddownandhisbodytouchingthetopofthearch，madehiswayout。Vendalefollowedcloseuponhim，butfollowedwithoutclearmotiveorcalculation。ForthelethargyofBaslewascreepingoverhimagain，andmasteringhissenses。
Howfarhehadfollowedoutofthegallery，orwithwhatobstacleshehadsincecontended，heknewnot。HebecamerousedtotheknowledgethatObenreizerhadsetuponhim，andthattheywerestrugglingdesperatelyinthesnow。Hebecamerousedtotheremembranceofwhathisassailantcarriedinagirdle。Hefeltforit，drewit，struckathim，struggledagain，struckathimagain，casthimoff，andstoodfacetofacewithhim。
\"Ipromisedtoguideyoutoyourjourney’send，\"saidObenreizer，\"andIhavekeptmypromise。Thejourneyofyourlifeendshere。