Heart of Ice by Carolyn Keene

apart.
    â€œThe holes should be just wide enough for one person to fit through,” Alex explained as he worked at the icy snow with his shovel. The two men dug for several minutes. While they worked, the others cleared the snow away from the openings, though Eladio was worried about getting snow in his boots.
    Alex and Logan then wriggled themselves into the holes and each began to create a room. They shoved snow out through the holes, and the teams on the outside cleared it away.
    Eventually the caves were large enough for a second person to fit inside, so Nancy crawledinside one and began to help clear the space. It didn’t take long for Nancy to realize that building a snow cave was difficult, tedious work. Because the entrances to the cave were long and narrow, she had to shovel the snow out in very small amounts.
    The group worked on the caves for almost two hours, and when they were finished they had built two caves that each measured seven feet by seven feet—big enough for four people each.
    As she set up her plastic liner and sleeping bag, Nancy commented how warm it was in the cave.
    â€œThis must be your first time in a snow cave,” Lisa said knowingly.
    Nancy was slightly irritated by her tone, but she smiled graciously. “Is it that obvious?” she asked.
    â€œNot really,” Anne assured her as she spread her thermal sleeping pad on the ground. Nancy was surprised that Anne had come to her defense. “But unless you’ve done a lot of winter climbing or spent time in the Arctic, there’s no reason why you would spend time in a snow cave.”
    â€œI guess that’s true,” Nancy agreed, laughing. “I’d really miss having electricity.” Having placed her sleeping bag on top of her thermalpad, Nancy decided to rejoin the rest of the group.
    Wriggling out of the cave entrance, Nancy shivered and pulled her scarf up around her face. It was much colder outside.
    Kara and Logan had set up a kind of shelter with tarps and were cooking dinner. Nancy walked over to the “kitchen” and poured boiling water into her bowl to heat it up. Logan had explained that if you put hot food into a frozen bowl, the food didn’t stay warm for long.
    â€œLots of carbohydrates,” Kara joked as she filled Nancy and Ned’s bowls with macaroni and cheese.
    Ned and Nancy turned to go back into Ned’s snow cave to eat. They huddled close together on Ned’s sleeping bag, trying to keep warm as they ate.
    When dinner was finished, Nancy and Ned went back outside. They asked Kara if she needed help with cleanup, but she insisted that everything was under control. Kara shooed everyone away from the kitchen area and began to do the dishes, so Nancy decided to turn in.
    â€œSleep tight,” Ned said to Nancy as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and gave her a tender kiss. His mouth was warm comparedto the cold mountain air, and Nancy felt herself melting in his arms.
    â€œI will,” Nancy promised, feeling how tired she was. After giving Ned a final kiss good night, she crawled into her cave.
    Since she had been the first to turn in, the snow cave was empty. Nancy pulled off her gloves, parka, and wind pants, leaving her hat and wool socks on for warmth.
    After burrowing into her mummy-shaped sleeping bag, Nancy considered what the next day might bring.
    A moment later her thoughts were interrupted by a loud scream that echoed through the night.

Chapter

Twelve
    N ANCY SAT BOLT UPRIGHT. It was Kara who had screamed. In an instant Nancy was out of her sleeping bag and pulling on her boots and parka.
    Nancy squirmed outside and saw Alex pulling Kara up over an icy ledge about forty yards from the camping area.
    â€œWhat happened?” Nancy asked Ned as they watched Alex lift Kara to safety.
    â€œI don’t know,” he answered. “I was just getting settled into my sleeping bag when I heard her scream. I got out here just before