ke at
whatever points the various castings of the stove came together with
insufficient snugness. There were but half a dozen people in the whole
train.

"Troubles, old man," said Aladdin, for so he was in the habit of
addressing himself at moments of self-communication, "this is going to
be the slowest kind of a trip, but we're going to enjoy every minute
of it, because it's taking us to the place where we would be-God bless
her!"

Aladdin took a cigar from his breast pocket.

"Troubles," said he, "may I offer you a smoke? What? Oh, you're very
much obliged and don't mind if you do. There you are, then." Aladdin
sent out a great puff of white smoke; this turned into a blue wraith,
drifted down the aisle, between the seats, gathering momentum as it
went, and finally, with the rapidity of a mint julep mounting a sucked
straw (that isn't split) and spun long and fine, it was drawn through a
puncture of the isinglass in the stove door and went up the chimney
in company with other smoke, and out into the storm. Aladdin, full of
anticipation and glee, smoked away with great spirit. Presently, for the
car was empty but for himself, Aladdin launched into the rollicking air
of "Red Renard"

"Three scarlet huntsmen rode up to White Plains
With a carol of voices and jangle of chains,
For the morning was blue and the morning was fair,
And the word ran, "Red Renard" is waiting us there."

He puffed at his cigar a moment to be sure that its fire should not
flag, and sang on:

"The first scarlet huntsman blew into his horn,
Lirala, Lovely Morning, I'm glad I was born";
The second red huntsman he whistled an air,
And the third sang, "Red Renard" is waiting us there."

"Just such weather as this, Troubles," he said, looking out into the
swirl of snow. "Just the beautifulest kind of cross-country weather!" He
sang on:

Three lovely ladies they met at the meet,
With whips in their hands and with boots on their feet;
And the gentlemen lifted their hats with a cheer,
As the girls said, "Red Renard is waiting you here."

He quickened into the stanza he liked best:

Three scarlet huntsmen rode off by the side
Of three lovely ladies on horses of pride.
Said the first, "Call me Ellen"; the second, "I'm Claire";
Said the third, "I'm Red Renard--so called from my hair."

The train, which had been running more slowly, drew up with a chug, and
some minutes passed befor