Part 2 (1/2)

It was evening--a calm, sunny, glorious, spring evening--when Redding and his man overtopped the heights that enclosed the vale, and paused as well to gaze upon the scene as to recover breath. Far below them lay the hamlet, a cl.u.s.ter of black dots on a field of pure snow. Roseate lights on undulations, and cold blue shadows in hollows, were tamed down in effect by the windows of the hamlet which shot forth beams of blazing fire at the setting sun. Illimitable s.p.a.ce seemed to stretch away to the place where the horizon would have been if it had not lost itself in a golden glory, and this vast reach was a varied irregular network of dark pines and fields of snow--the pines tipped everywhere with sparkling snow-wreaths, the fields streaked everywhere with long shadows. Little winding lines of a grey colour which radiated from the hamlet indicated the tracks where the settlers drove their sleighs and wood-sledges. Many of these were seen moving along the far-off tracks like insects, while the tinkle of the sleigh-bells floated upwards like fairy music.

”Yes, I shall take up my abode there,” murmured Redding, as he gazed in rapt admiration on the beautiful scene.

”Monsieur?” said his companion.

”I say that I should like to dwell there,” answered Redding. ”It is a splendid country, and will be better known in days to come.”

”Vraiment, truly, a magnifircent kontry,” returned Le Rue, ”gorgeows, magnifique! I vould giv moche, ver moche, to have leetil cottage, an vife, an cow, an pigs dere.”

As Redding had been thinking of something similar, he laughed, and commenced the descent of the zigzag track that led to the hamlet.

They had proceeded only a few yards when, turning round a cl.u.s.ter of pines, they suddenly discovered some travellers in difficulty--a man whose horse had s.h.i.+ed or stumbled off the narrow track and was embedded up to the girths in the soft snow, and two females, whose furry garments, all besprinkled with snow, showed that they had just emerged from the sledge, which lay on its side behind the horse. The driver's chief anxiety seemed to be to quiet and restrain his horse, which being high-spirited, was plunging in vain and frantic efforts to extricate himself, to the great danger of shafts and harness.

To run up and aid the man was of course the instant impulse of our travellers.

”Ah! good luck to 'ee,” exclaimed the driver, in tones that were unmistakably Irish, ”here, howld 'is head till I get the sled clear.”

”All right,” cried the Englishman, seizing the reins near the mouth of the terrified animal and holding its head forcibly down, while Le Rue a.s.sisted the owner to unharness.

In a few minutes the vehicle was righted, and the horse released.

While the driver was busy readjusting the harness, he accompanied the operation with a running fire of grateful expressions, such as--”there now, ain't ye in luck, Rooney? Arrah! gentleman, it's my blissin' I bestow on yez. Och! but I'd have bin lost intirely widout ye. Well well, it's always the way. I'm no sooner in a sc.r.a.pe than I'm sure to get out of it. It's meself is a favoured man. Now thin, ladies, git in, for we're late enough on the road.”

On the two ”ladies” thus addressed Redding and his man had been gazing in silent surprise, for they were so good-looking and so blooming, that it seemed to the two men, who had been accustomed of late to the sight of none but the brown dames of the red skins, as if a couple of beings from another and a purer world had dropped suddenly upon their path.

One of the two was evidently a lady, and was possessed of no common share of beauty. Her dark hair contrasted powerfully with the fairness of her skin and the whiteness of her teeth. Her dazzling black eyes almost, and her red lips altogether, laughed as she observed Redding's gaze of astonishment. Her companion, a very pretty Canadian girl, was evidently her maid.

”We owe you many thanks, kind sirs,” said the lady, ”for your opportune a.s.sistance.”

”Pardon me, madam,” said Redding, hastening forward in some confusion as he recovered from his rather rude stare of surprise, ”I dwell in the wilderness and have been so unaccustomed of late to the sight of ladies that--that--allow me to a.s.sist you into the sleigh!”

”Mademoiselle, permettez moi,” said Le Rue, advancing to the waiting-maid and politely offering his hand.

Another moment and the ”ladies” were seated in the vehicle and carefully repacked by our travellers, while their Irish driver mounted to his seat in front and gathered up the reins.

”Thanks, gentlemen, many thanks,” repeated the ladies, with bewitching smiles.

”Good luck to 'ee both,” cried the driver, as he flourished his whip and drove away.

Redding and his man stood silently gazing for several minutes at the turn in the road where the vision had vanished.

”Heaven for two minits, an' now--gone for evair!” said Le Rue, with a deep sigh.

Redding echoed the sigh, and then laughed at the lugubrious expression of his man's face.

”Oh _such_ eyes!” exclaimed Le Rue.

”Yes, she's rather good-looking,” replied Redding, thinking of the lady.

”Good-looking! non--bootifool--exiquitely bootifool,” cried Le Rue, thinking of the maid.