ll places suited him better.

Passing through the town, next day, he continued his course along
the road near the river Moldau. He made but short journeys, for the
snow had not yet hardened, and it was very heavy riding. He
therefore took four days in getting to Prague.

He thought it probable that here a watch might be kept for him for,
had he travelled straight from Spielberg, this was the point for
which, in all probability, he would have made; unless he had gone
through Silesia, and then travelled up through Breslau. He
therefore made a circuit of the picturesque old city, entered it by
a western gate, and then rode straight for the bridge. He had slept
at a place but four miles distant, and had started at daybreak, so
that it was still early in the day when he proceeded on his way.

He stopped at a small town, ten miles farther north. Two or three
squadrons of cavalry were quartered there. The landlord at the inn
where he put up at once asked for his papers. These he took to the
town offices, where they were stamped as being in due order. Half
an hour later, as Fergus was at his meal, two officers entered.

"Your papers appear to be right, sir," one of them said
courteously; "but in times like these, it is our duty to examine
closely into these matters. You come from Vienna?"

"Yes, sir."

"Which way did you travel?"

"By way of Linz and Budweis," he said. "The snow began on the day
before I left the capital, and I was advised to take that route, as
the road would be more level, and less likely to be blocked with
snow than that through Horn. You will see that my paper was stamped
at Linz, and also at Freystadt.

"I was detained at the latter place seven days. For the first three
it snowed, and for the next four days the garrison was occupied,
with the aid of troops from Budweis, in opening the defile."

The officer nodded.

"I happen to know that your story is correct, sir, and that it
accounts fully for your movements since leaving Vienna. Which way
do you intend to cross the passes into Saxony?"

"I must be guided by what I hear of their state. I had hoped to
have got back before the snow began to fall in earnest, but I
should think that the road by the river will now be the best."

"I should think so," the officer said, "but even that will be bad
enough. However, I will not detain you farther."

They moved away to another table and, calling for a bottle of wine,
sat down.

"No, we are mistaken