Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16 Suddenly, the schoolhouse door flew open with a loud bang. An icy blast of freezing air and snow exploded into the room. The wind had ripped off the door! But no. It wasn't the wind. Three men stumbled into the schoolhouse. One of them wrestled the door closed again. The men stood there, breathing hard. They were so caked

with snow and ice they looked like walking snowmen. Myra went running over. "Papa!" she said, ignoring the snow that covered him and throwing her arms around him. The other men were Mr. Johnson and Mr. Lowry, who owned stores in town. "We've got three sleds outside," Myra's father said, his voice rising over the wind. "Plenty of room for everyone. Blankets, too. We're going to get you into town, to the hotel. We can wait out the blizzard there and then get everyone home when the storm is over." Cheers rang out. They'd been rescued! Peter held up his broom and hooted. Miss Ruell closed her eyes, looked up, and whispered something to herself. And then she clapped her hands and called the class to order. "Everyone get their coats and wraps and line up."

"Let's be quick," said Myra's father. "Storm's getting worse. The horses are freezing." Miss Ruell divided the children into three groups. She would ride in the biggest sled in the front, with the six youngest children. Myra and Annie would take charge of three younger girls and go with Mr. Johnson in the second sled. John and the guys would be in the third sled with Mr. Lowry. John didn't want to be away from Franny. But there was no way he could argue. And he knew Miss Ruell would keep her safe. Myra's father flung open the door, and they faced the brutal cold. It was more freezing now than it had been when John was stuck outside. The snow poured down harder. It was like standing under a waterfall made of snow and ice. Within seconds they were all covered. John held Franny's hand tight as they pushed through the wild, frozen swirl. There were lanterns

on each sled. The lanterns cast a ghostly yellow light, just enough to show the outline of the sleds. Each was a simple wooden wagon mounted on metal sled rails, and hitched to a single horse. John felt so sorry for those horses. Their fur wasn't much protection in cold this harsh. He wondered how long they'd be able to stand it. John lifted Franny into the first wagon and made sure she was wrapped in a blanket. It was useless to try to talk over the screaming, hissing wind. He hugged his sister tight and then hurried back to his sled. He climbed up and settled down next to Rex. Mr. Lowry was already in the driver's seat, holding the reins. John and the guys had one big blanket to share. They put it over their heads, to try to keep the snow and ice out of their faces. But it was useless. The snow was ground up so fine it completely filled the air. The glassy ice raked at his eyeballs, like tiny claws. John sat there, miserable and shivering. But he reminded himself that they were

close to town — the trip shouldn't take more than ten minutes. The guys weren't complaining, were they? John had to be tough. Finally, the first sled started to move, and its yellow glowing lantern light disappeared. The second sled followed. Mr. Lowry was about to snap the reins to get their horse moving. But just then the wind let out a vicious howl. There was a crunch, and a hunk of the schoolhouse roof came flying through the air. It smacked the horse on the back. The horse reared in terror. The sled rocked and almost tipped over. Mr. Lowry tumbled out onto the ground. The horse took off in panic, dragging the sled — and John and the guys — along with it. And now they were speeding through the blizzard, out of control.