all expectation of falling in with some
of my companions. It occurred to me that they might at once have put
before the wind, as sailors say, and steered for the wood towards which
I was directing my course.

I looked out, almost expecting to see a wreath of white smoke curling up
from amidst the trees. No signs of human beings, however, could I
discover. As we advanced my horse increased its pace, and at last the
wood was reached, but on the weather side the snow was piled up more
thickly than even in the open ground. I had, therefore, to make a
circuit, till I could get to the lee side.

In course of time, however, I reached it, and found a deep bay or hollow
formed by the trees. Here the snow was comparatively shallow. As I
threw myself from my horse and took off the bridle, the sagacious animal
immediately began to grub away with its nose in the snow, and soon got
down to the green grass which grew there abundantly.

I was very sure that my steed would not stray away, so that there was no
necessity for hobbling it. Fastening the bridle over my shoulder, I
hurried into the wood to collect sticks to light a fire, at which I
might thaw my shoes and warm myself thoroughly. I was satisfied that,
in spite of the cold I had endured, I was nowhere severely frostbitten.
As I came along I had rubbed my ears with snow, which had restored
circulation. Even my feet and fingers, though bitterly cold, had
escaped.

Having collected a number of sticks, I scraped away the snow at a short
distance from the trees, and piled them up. I then felt in my pocket
for my flint and steel and tinder box. I at once found the latter, but
to my dismay I could not discover the flint and steel.

I remembered giving it, the last time we encamped, to Pat Casey, but I
could not recollect whether he had returned it. I was almost in
despair. I feared that, should I attempt to pass another night without
fire, I must perish, even were the cold less intense than it had been
previously.

Pat Casey was bound to give them back to me. He must have done so.

I remembered that I had pockets in my waistcoat. I unbuttoned my coat,
and there at the bottom in the left-hand pocket of my waistcoat I found
my flint and steel. They were of more value to me just then than a
purse of gold.

I quickly struck a light, and going down on my knees, by the aid of some
dried moss and leaves, and by dint of careful blowing, I soon had a fire
started, as