Part 11 (1/2)

”Well,” interposed Foster-father philosophically, ”soo if any one is to sleep”

Whereat he went to the door; but Tumbu on the doorstep refused to come in; he barked, bounced off, and returned the next ; go and see what it is,” ca”

”Lo! rumbled Head-nurse; ”shut the door whichever way it is I perish with cold!”

Foster-father was a wise man, so to avoid further discussion he stepped out and shut the door behind him Thus for a minute or two there was peace Then Foster-father's voice rose urgently from outside

”Open! I say open! Quick!”

Foster- some one in his arms ”God send the boy be not dead,” he said as he laid down his burden

It was Roy the Rajput!

”I found him quite close, frozen by the cold,” he continued, as they set to work before the fire to rub the poor, stiff lih the blue lips

It was soh, a quiver of the eyelids told that Roy was oncebefore he could sit up and tell theed to evade the eyes of the troopers, and had arrived at the _serai_ just after the startled party had left it; had followed on their traces until he had lost his way In despair he had been stu ai his lead, he had struggled on, gradually benumbed by cold, until at last his feet had failed him, and he remembered no ravely ”I told you he wanted so his name, roused his furry head fro master with his sharp, beady, black eyes, as who should say:

”Of course I did, because I knew you wanted him”

CHAPTER XII

SNOW AND ICE

The Captain of the Escort was not over pleased to find Roy when he ca found his way on foot, must make it on foot, and that none should wait for hi limbs on that hilly country werepowers, and the cold was so intense that it was a relief not to sit still on horseback So he raced on ahead with Tumbu or held by Horse-chestnut's stirrup, and, as he ran, told stories to amuse the Heir-to-Empire; for neither of the nurses was in a fit state to do ht, tied by leathern belts to the troopers behind whom they rode

About sunset tihest bit of the ed to take, as there was no other way over the mountains ahead of them Here, at the end--as poor Head-nurse wailed--of the habitable world, the Captain of the Escort had expected to find the remainder of his men; but they were not there, and as his provisions were running short, he could not go on till they did arrive So, in an ill humor, he ordered a halt, and the whole outwearied party hastily cooked there supper and lay down in hot haste for rest at last And rest they had, for that night the snohich had been threatening, began to fall, and by daylight a good nine inches lay on the ground The children, who had never seen such thick snow before, were delighted; but Foster-father looked fearfully at the passes before them, while the Captain of the Escort fumed and fretted at the non-arrival of his men Unless they came soon, he said, if ht be closed for days Not that there seemed much likelihood of further storh keen, pleasant About noon, there being still no sign of themen with provisions, the captain became impatient, and told Foster-father curtly that he and his three troopers would ride back soe, where perchance the others aiting, and that meanwhile the rest of theh for a day or two Foster-father protested against being left alone in the snoith but a boy, two helpless wohed and rode off, taking with hiainst any atte to be done, Foster-father felt, save to hat patience he could; but his heart sank as, while Head-nurse and Foster-ue, and the children under Roy's care played soballs, he sat and watched the sky

At first there was only a cloud or two in the west; then a sudden wind sprang up and drove the fine, powdery snow in drifts But still the sun shone, though it seerow a little dimmer, a little paler; finally, about two hours after the others had left, Foster-father felt uncertain whether it was all drift that seemed to fill the air with a fine white fil

An hour later there was no doubt about it Great flakes were circling down silently, the sun had vanished, all things had becorey

Head-nurse heaped up the fire, set a quilt before it for the children to play upon, and then opened out the wallets to see what she could find for supper There was not much left, and she was about to knead up all the flour to bake hearth cakes when Foster-father crossed over to her and whispered:

”Half will do, sister; otherwise there may be none for to-morrow”

”None?” she echoed ”But they will be back----”

Foster-father pointed to the snow that, driven now by a rising wind, had drifted underneath the door ”Not through that, sister! We may have to stay here till the weather moderates, for none save friends will risk their lives, and these men love us not!”

But even as he spoke there was a bustling at the door, Tu loudly, and in stumbled----