he could not go round a log, he thought nothing
of making a leap over it. Away they trotted, the sleigh-bells sounding
merrily in the frosty air. Rob's sleigh and several others had passed,
so that the snow was beaten pretty hard, while the track was well
marked. Tony and Tommy amused themselves by whistling and singing and
telling stories, laughing heartily at what each other said. The country
looked very different to what it had done ten days before. Everything
was white, the boughs hung down with the weight of snow, and where in
some places it had melted and frozen again, the trees looked as if they
were covered with diamonds and rubies and other precious stones. The
horse went well, and they got on famously all day. Before it was dark
they reached the spot where Rob and Susan had camped.

The boys soon had a fire blazing in front of the hut Rob had built for
Susan. They hobbled the horse, and gave him some hay and oats, and then
they began to cook their own provisions. It would have been hard to
find a couple of more merry and happy fellows; not that they had forgot
the wolves, but they did not fear being attacked as long as they kept up
a good fire. This time, however, the one on the watch took care not to
fall asleep, and to keep the fire burning brightly. Now and then howls
were heard from far-off in the depths of the forest, which reminded them
of the visitors they might expect if they let the fire out.

Daylight came again; they and the horse breakfasted; and they were once
more gliding over the smooth snow, the sleigh-bells sounding merrily in
the fresh morning air. As the sun rose, the air became warmer and the
snow softer, which prevented them from getting on so well as they hoped.
As the sun went round, and the trees for a time were cast into shade,
long icicles formed on the boughs, which, as a stray beam found its way
through the wood, shone like masses of precious stones.

The snow had now lasted for some days, and at that early time of the
season a thaw might any hour begin. This made the two lads eager to
push on; but "too much haste is bad speed," and they almost knocked up
their horse before half the day's journey was over. The evening was
drawing on, and they were still a long way from Roland's shanty. Tony
was driving, and making their tired horse go on as fast as he could,
when Tommy, looking over his shoulder, saw a huge wolf following close
behind them. "Drive on fast," cried To