n it.

It was concluded to leave the care of the house to honest Caleb; to
fasten closets and drawers, and, carrying away the money which was found
in one of them, and which amounted to no inconsiderable sum, to repair
to the house formerly mentioned. The air was cold; a heavy snow began to
fall in the night; the wind blew tempestuously; and we were compelled to
confront it.

In leaving her dwelling, in which she had spent her whole life, the
unhappy girl gave way afresh to her sorrow. It made her feeble and
helpless. When placed upon the horse, she was scarcely able to maintain
her seat. Already chilled by the cold, blinded by the drifting snow, and
cut by the blast, all my remonstrances were needed to inspire her with
resolution.

I am not accustomed to regard the elements, or suffer them to retard or
divert me from any design that I have formed. I had overlooked the weak
and delicate frame of my companion, and made no account of her being
less able to support cold and fatigue than myself. It was not till we
had made some progress in our way, that I began to view, in their true
light, the obstacles that were to be encountered. I conceived it,
however, too late to retreat, and endeavoured to push on with speed.

My companion was a skilful rider, but her steed was refractory and
unmanageable. She was able, however, to curb his spirit till we had
proceeded ten or twelve miles from Malverton. The wind and the cold
became too violent to be longer endured, and I resolved to stop at the
first house which should present itself to my view, for the sake of
refreshment and warmth.

We now entered a wood of some extent, at the termination of which I
remembered that a dwelling stood. To pass this wood, therefore, with
expedition, was all that remained before we could reach a hospitable
asylum. I endeavoured to sustain, by this information, the sinking
spirits of my companion. While busy in conversing with her, a blast of
irresistible force twisted off the highest branch of a tree before us.
It fell in the midst of the road, at the distance of a few feet from her
horse's head. Terrified by this accident, the horse started from the
path, and, rushing into the wood, in a moment threw himself and his
rider on the ground, by encountering the rugged stock of an oak.

I dismounted and flew to her succour. The snow was already dyed with the
blood which flowed from some wound in her head, and she lay without
sense or motion. My terr