Their plight was now worse than ever. They not only had to face the dangers of hunger and cold, there was the added danger of Cruella. They knew from the direction her car was facing that their enemy must have already been to Hell Hall and learned that they had escaped, and must now be on her way back to London. At any moment she might leave the fire and overtake them.

If only they could have left the road and travelled by the fields again! But there were now woods on either side of the road, woods so thick that the army could not have kept together.

But we can hide in there, if we see the car’s headlights,€ said Pongo, and explained this to the puppies. Then the army was on the march again.

At least the pups are warm now,€ said Missis. And they have forgotten how tired and hungry they are. It will be all right, Pongo.€

The pace was certainly good for a couple of miles; then it got slower and slower.

The puppies will have to rest,€ said Missis. And this is a good place for it.€

There was now a wide, grassy verge to the road. The moment Pongo called a halt, the pups sank down on the frosty grass. Many of them at once fell asleep.

They ought not to sleep,€ said Pongo anxiously.

Let them, for a little while,€ said Missis.

The Cadpig was not asleep. She sat up in her cart and said, Will there be a barn soon, with kind cows and warm milk?€

I’m sure there will be something nice,€ said Missis. Snuggle down in your hay, my darling. Pongo, how strangely quiet it is.

They could no longer hear any sounds from the village. No breath of wind rustled the grass or stirred the trees. The world seemed frozen into a silvery, silent stillness.

Something soft and fluffy touched Pongo’s head, something that puzzled him. Then, as he realized what it was, Missis whispered, Look, Pongo! Look at the puppies!€

Tiny white dots were appearing on the sooty black coats. Snow had begun to fall.

Missis said, smiling, Instead of being white pups with black spots they are turning into black pups with white spots only soon they will be all white. How soft and gentle the snow is!

Pongo was not smiling. He cried, If they sleep on until it has covered them, they will never wake they will freeze to death beneath that soft, gentle snow! Wake up, pups! Wake up!€

By now, every pup but Lucky and the Cadpig had fallen into a deep, exhausted sleep. Lucky helped his parents to rouse them, and the Cadpig helped too, sitting up in her cart and yapping piercingly. The poor pups begged to be left to sleep, and those who tottered onto their feet soon tottered off them again.

We shall never get them going,€ said Pongo despairingly.