in with a crackling like packs of
pop-crackers in the distance.

[Illustration: They flew on, over fields of white snow.]

The wind sang in their ears, nipped their noses, and made Tommy
drowsy, and presently he must have fallen asleep; for just as he was
conscious that Johnny had taken the reins, and, with one arm on either
side of him was holding him on his shoulder, there was a great jolt
and a sort of crash as of breaking through. He would have fallen off
the sled if Johnny had not held him tight.

When he opened his eyes they seemed to be passing through a sort of
silvery haze, as though the moonlight were shining through a fine mist
of silvery drops which shed the softest radiance over everything. And
suddenly through this enchanting light they came to a beautiful city,
with walls around it of crystal, all rimmed with gold, like the clouds
at sunset. Before them was a great gate through which shone a
wonderful light, and inside they saw a wide street all lit up. As they
reached the gate there was a sort of peal, as of bells, and out poured
a guard of little men in uniform with little swords at their sides and
guns in their hands, who saluted, while their officer, who had a
letter in his hand, halted them with a challenge.

"Who goes there?"

"Friends," said Tommy, standing up and saluting, as he had seen
soldiers do at the fort.

"Advance, friends, and give the countersign." Tommy thought they were
lost and his heart sank.

But Johnny said, "'Good-will.'"

"All right," said the captain and stepped back.

"Who gave you that sled?" he asked.

"Tommy," said Johnny. "This little boy here made it and gave it to
me."

"This is the one," said the captain to a guard, looking at a letter in
his hand. "Let them by."

They drove in at the gate and found themselves in a broad street
filled with enchanting things more beautiful than Tommy had ever
dreamed of. The trees which lined it were Christmas trees, and the
lights on them made the street as bright as noonday.

Here the reindeer slackened their pace, and as they turned down the
great street they could see through the windows rooms brilliantly
lighted, in which were hosts of people bustling about as busy as bees,
working at Christmas things of all sorts and descriptions. They
suddenly came to the gate of a great palace-like place, which the
reindeer appeared to know, for they turned in at the gate just as
Tommy's father's horses always turned in at their