ver a succession of ridges, on which it seemed a wonder
that the horses could keep their legs, and that we could escape being
jerked out. Sometimes a trunk, rotted by the wet, had given way and
left a gap, to avoid which it required my father's utmost skill in
driving. Occasionally, with all his care, he could not find a space
wide enough to enable the wheels to pass. On such occasions, lashing
his horses into a gallop, he made the waggon bound over it, crying out,
as he came to the spot--

"Hold fast, Kate; don't let Mike be hove overboard."

The waggon was strong, and stood the jolting better than my poor mother
did. She, however, bore all the bumping, jolting, and rolling with
perfect good humour, knowing well that my father would spare her as much
of it as he possibly could.

Darkness found us still on the road, although my father could still see
his way between the tall trees. Scarcely had the sun set than we again
heard that ominous howl, followed by sharp yelps.

"Oh! the wolves, the wolves!" cried my mother.

"Never fear," said my father, "they are arrant cowards, and there are no
large packs hereabouts to do us harm."

The thought, however, that they might follow us, alarmed my mother, and
she kept me close to her side, looking out anxiously behind, expecting
every instant to see a hungry pack coming up in chase of us. My father,
perhaps, was not quite easy on the subject; he kept shouting out, and in
spite of the roughness of the road, made the horses go at a faster pace
than before.

"Hurrah! I see a light ahead," he shouted at last; "that's the log hut
we were told of; and even if the wolves do come, we shall be safe from
them in a few minutes, for they will not approach a human habitation."

On we jolted; I could distinguish a clearing on the side where the light
appeared, it grew brighter and stronger, and presently my father pulled
up in front of a good-sized building, composed of huge logs placed one
above another, with the doors and windows sawn out of them, and roofed
with shingles, which are thin broad slabs of wood, split from the trunks
of large trees.

"Can you afford us shelter for the night, friend?" said my father to a
man, who, hearing the sound of wheels, came outside the door.

"Ay, and a welcome too, such as we give to all strangers who have money
or money's worth to pay for their lodging, and I guess you've got that."

"Yes, I am ready to pay for our board and lodging, bu