ppened, and that
the old man was gliding forward to the end of the course with an
adequate structure under him. But with the latter it was far
different; for, as the sled stopped, he was projected sharply upward
into the air, and, after turning several somersaults, he actually
landed in front of the Trapper, and glided along on the slippery
surface ahead of him. And so the two men shot onward, one after the
other, while the children cackled from the hill-top, and the woman
swung her bonnet over her head, and laughed from her position in the
doorway.

"Bill," called the Trapper, when by dint of much effort they had
managed to check their motion somewhat, "Bill, ef the cruise be about
over, I conceit we'd better anchor hereabouts. But I shipped fur the
voyage, and ye be capt'in, and as ye've finally got the right way to
steer, I feel pretty safe techin' the futur'."

It was not until they had come to a full stop, and looked around them,
that they realized the distance they had come; for they had in truth
slid nearly across the bay.

"I've boated a good many times on these waters, and under
sarcumstances that called fur 'arnest motion, but I sartinly never
went across this bay as fast as I've did it to-day. How do ye feel,
Bill, how do ye feel?"

"A good deal shaken up," was the answer, "a good deal shaken up."

"I conceit as much," answered the Trapper, "I conceit as much, fur ye
left the sled with mighty leetle deliberation; and when I saw yer legs
comin' through the air, I sartinly doubted ef the ice would hold ye.
But ye steered with jedgment; yis, ye steered with jedgment, Bill; and
I'd said it ef we'd gone to the bottom."

The sun was already set when they returned to the cabin; for,
selecting a safer course, they had given the children an hour's happy
sliding. The woman had prepared some fresh tea and a lunch, which they
ate with lessened appetites, but with humor that never flagged. When
it was ended, the Old Trapper rose to depart, and with a dignity and
tenderness peculiarly his own, thus spoke:--

"My good woman," he said, "the moon will soon be up, and the time has
come fur me to be goin'. I've had a happy day with ye and the leetle
uns; and the trail over the mountain will seem shorter, as the pups
and me go home, thinkin' on't. Wild Bill will stay a few days, and put
things a leetle more to rights, and git up a wood-pile that will keep
ye from choppin' fur a good while. It's his own thought, and ye c