noon
On returning , Dell was thrown several times by the buffeting wind , but recovered his feet , and , following the rope , the dug-out was safely reached . `` That 's what happened to me in the darkness , '' said Joel , once the shelter of the house was reached . `` I got whipped off my feet , lost my bearings , and every time I looked for the light , my eyes filled with snow . '' -LSB- Illustration : DELL WELLS -RSB- There was no abatement of the blizzard by noon . It was impossible to succor the cattle , but the boys were anxious to reach the corral , which was fully a mile from the shack . Every foot of the creek was known , and by hugging the leeward bank some little protection would be afforded and the stream would lead to the cattle . Near the middle of the afternoon , there was a noticeable abatement in the swirling snow , when the horses were blanketed to the limit and an effort made to reach the corral .