They had reckoned that the nearest inhabited house was ten miles away by straight line almost due north. If one crossed the mountains and kept to the easiest route, it would be nearer thirteen miles, a tiring but not unpleasant day’s journey over the hills, through glens and woods and across several burns. In good weather.

Under present conditions, in poor, almost non-existent visibility in a severe snowstorm, with glens almost certainly blocked with deep drifts, the uneven ground and gullies treacherously concealed, it would be a dangerous journey in the extreme.

‘We do not send anyone out unless we have to,’ Pollard stated. He glanced round the group, addressed Paul.

‘Is there a telephone in your cottage?’

Paul, caught on the hop, hesitated. Carol came quickly to his aid.

‘No, I’m afraid not. It never seemed worth while putting it in.’

‘So it’s no use expecting anyone to phone you, get no reply and begin worrying. How soon were you expected back?’

‘A week from now.’

‘No one in the vicinity will check the cottage to see if you’ve arrived safely?’

‘No.’

Bourne’s sardonic face registered a tinge of amusement. His cultivated voice was almost patronizing in tone.

‘It does look as if we are caught here until either the weather lifts and we can send someone out or until the outside world notices our continued absence and makes enquiries. It seems to me therefore that we should estimate the minimum likely number of days we are going to have to depend upon our resources and plan accordingly.’

‘Not the minimum,’ said Meredith, ‘the maximum. I’ve seen this weather last ten days at this time up here. No. No one from Benmore House is going to get worried about us for at least a week. They know we’re not on the phone and that we had scheduled a stay of that length of time here. What about your lot, Hunt?’

He shrugged. ‘Much the same.’

‘And your people, Pollard?’

‘We’re due back in four days’ time. They’ll give us a couple of days’ grace before they start making enquiries.’

Meredith nodded.

‘Well, that’s it. We could be here for at least a week before anyone gets worried. Fortunately we came loaded with a week’s supply of food. We have calor gas, paraffin for the lamps and there’s a log-pile at the rear of the house. Oh, and in one of the cellars there’s actually a few hundredweight of coal.’

Hunt drained his cup.

‘Well, there’s no worry. We can still keep to our previous schedule. In fact from our point of view this weather adds to it. Tremendous atmosphere.’

‘I would suggest,’ said Pollard, ‘that if in three days’ time there’s no improvement to the weather, we ration our supplies and begin to make preparations to send two of our number out.’