l day
long.'

'Never fear! 'answered Oswald. 'It would illy become a soldier to be
unable to remember any locality it might be necessary for him to find
again. He then looked at the highest peaks in the vicinity, impressed
their relative positions upon his memory, carefully examined the secret
door, and thus prepared, they went forth into the clear fresh morning
air and soon became engaged in a conversation of such interest as to
render them entirely heedless of the lapse of time.

'I know not how it is,' said Faith, fanning her glowing face with her
handkerchief; 'it is yet mid winter here, and I am so very warm.'

'It is incident to the summer of life,' said their former guide, who
suddenly stood before them as they turned a corner; 'especially when
the sun of love shines warmly. It is not probable you will have much
further occasion to complain of the heat to-day, for a storm is
approaching.'

'With the sky so clear? Impossible!' cried Faith.

'You know nothing of the tricks of the mountain-sprites,' said the
Bohemian. 'One moment we have sunshine, the next thunder and lightning.
That is the way with them. You will do well to return to the valley
betimes.'

He passed on and was soon out of sight.

'We had better follow him,' said Oswald.

'Yet but one quarter of an hour,' begged Faith; 'and then we will
return as fast as we can.'

'Who can deny you any thing,' said the youth; 'even when you solicit
what should not be granted?'

They still continued to advance, until they came where the rocks were
less compactly clustered, and glimpses of the plain, presenting
brilliant winter landscapes, were occasionally obtained through the
openings.

'Ah, how much pleasanter it is here than in the pent up valley!' cried
Faith, clapping her hands with childish joy.

Oswald suddenly started and listened. 'Did you hear nothing?' he asked
the maiden. 'It sounded like a distant trumpet.'

'Yes,' said Faith, after listening a moment; 'it must be the blast of a
trumpet.'

'It may be our pursuers!' cried Oswald. 'Let us hasten back to our
asylum.'

He now turned quickly about with Faith, and, rather bearing than
leading her, hastened to retrace the path by which they had come.
Before proceeding far on their return, they were met by a colder and
sharper wind, and the snow which it blew from the summits of the rocks
involved them in a white fleecy cloud.

'Alas, Oswald, I can no longer see,' complained Faith.

'It i