Mrs Mason, heard that she intended walking, she would not let her go.
She said that it was not fit for a young girl who was delicate, and that
she must wait till she could get a lift in a sleigh going that way. Rob
said that he would not wait, as he ought to be back again to help his
father. Still the good lady would not give in.

Two days passed, and the snow came down again thicker than ever. Then
it cleared up. The sky was bright, the wind keen, and there seemed
every chance of the frost lasting for some days. It was likely,
however, that there would be one or two thaws before the regular frost
of winter set in.

At last Rob thought that he would hire a sleigh to carry his sister.
Just then, who should he meet in the street but his neighbour, Mr
Landon. Rob told him of his difficulty.

"Just the very thing," said Mr Landon. "I have bought two sleighs, one
which I want to send home at once, as it is for the use of my wife and
daughters. You shall take Susan in it, if your brother will wait two or
three days longer, and drive the luggage-sleigh with my winter stores.
By starting early you will be able to get through half the distance to
Roland's shanty by night-fall. Take fodder for the horse, and if you
cover in the sleigh at night, and keep up a blazing fire, Susan won't be
the worse for it."

Rob agreed to the proposal. Tony and Tommy were in great glee at the
thoughts of driving a sleigh by themselves. Rob had told Mr Landon
that Tony was fully up to the work. As there was no time to be lost,
Rob set off the next morning by daybreak, with Susan well wrapped up in
buffalo robes.

Mr Landon had to do some business in a distant town, and would not be
back for two weeks or so. It seemed certain that the fine weather would
last when Rob set out. At last Tony's turn came. His sleigh was only a
large box, on runners. Before day broke, he and Tommy were on foot,
ready to start. Mr Landon cautioned them not to delay on the road.
"No fear, sir," said Tony.

"May be we'll catch up Rob, if he isn't very smart," observed Tommy.

Away they drove. There was nothing unusual in giving a sleigh in charge
of two such boys as Tony and Tommy. Boys in the colonies are constantly
employed in work which men only would undertake in the old country.
Tony had often driven sleighs long distances for his former master, so
he had no fear about the matter. The horse was a rough animal, well up
to bush travelling. If