which operation they were assisted by the
wolf-hound, who alternately scratched in the
snow and fawned upon Eric. When they had
succeeded in getting the man disinterred from
the mass which half suffocated him, they
found he was quite whole as far as bones
were concerned; but so bruised he could
hardly stand. Whilst they were busy with
him, another man ran up from the direction
of the forest.

"God be thanked!" he said, "are the
young ladies safe? Noble gentlemen, you
have saved us all from death. I was thrown
out of the sleigh a quarter of a mile away
—when the horses first bolted. Heaven be
praised for your arrival. I expected to find
my dear young mistress dead."

All this had taken some time. The wind
now blew in strong gusts, and the clouds
were coming up fast before it.

"We must decide what had better be done
next, Carl," said Eric; "we have no time to
lose, the storm will be upon us soon. I think
the ladies had better go back to Stettin in
our sleigh, it is the nearest shelter. If you
will drive them I will get these fallen horses
up, and will follow you with the man who
is hurt, as soon as I can.

But Carl insisted on staying behind. Eric
pleaded the coming storm.

"You do not know, my Carl, what a snow-
storm is; I do. Let me remain to get the
horses up and bring the sleigh back, while
you make the best of your way to Stettin
with the ladies; and send more assistance to
us; but if we make haste, we shall be in
Stettin now, before it comes."

It was of no use. Carl was inexorable as
fate, he said—

"You had better lose no more time, Eric;
but take the ladies as fast as you can."

He helped Eric to put them in the sleigh.
The lady who had fainted, had now partly
recovered and sat close nestled beside her
sister. There was scarcely room for three;
they were obliged to sit close. They were
now ready for a start, and Eric, pressing Carl's
hand, said:

"I shall be back in less than an hour.
Make haste, dear Carl, and whatever you do,
keep moving. I know you do not want for
energy and a strong will. Have you your
cigar-case? Is it well furnished?"

"Yes, here it is, and plenty of cigars; and
here is the brandy-flask. I shall do well
enough, don't fear."

Eric turned the horses' heads in the direction
of Stettin. He had no need to touch
their flanks now with the lash. They flew back
along the road they had so lately come,
winged with the double terror of wolves and
the coming storm. The sleigh glanced over
the ground like lightning. The wind now
raged in furious squalls, tore off the icy
branches of the trees and showered them on
the heads of the fugitives.

"We shall have a frightful storm, I am
afraid," said his golden-haired companion,
who now sat next to him, muffled up in her
cloak and hood. "O, why have you left your
friend to save us: your friend whom you
seem to love so dearly. Do, do, let us go
back; it is not too late; we will wait till he
is ready to come with us."

At this moment, the moon broke through
the thick mass of clouds driving before her,
and fell full upon the upturned face of the
beautiful speaker. Eric gazed down upon
her in mute rapture; but, for only answer to
her entreaties to go back to wait for Carl, he
shook the reins, as he raised his head from
that silent gaze. On they flew, and the ringing
of the silver bells, sounded faintly through
the increasing din of the coming storm. On
they flew, and alongside the sleigh the noble
wolf-hound galloped in company.

Eric's head seemed to whirl, he thought he
must be dreaming. She, she sat behind him,
she who had been his thoughts for months,
by day, by night; she, his pure vision; he
had rescued her from a frightful death; he
was carrying her away from the dreadful
storm; and, now, there she sat, and whenever
he turned to look at her, her blue eyes
swimming in tears, sank before his ardent
gaze. His heart beat fast, his eyes flashed
with an emotion which seemed too great
for words. He sat silent till the light of
Stettin gleamed through the darkness before
them; and now they stood before the door of
the Geldenstern.

In a moment, all its inhabitants were astir.
Every one poured out to inquire why the
beautiful grey horses were returned. Every
one questioned, every one answered. The
wolf-hound jumped up, and fawned upon
Eric, as he handed the ladies out of the sleigh;
and amidst the confused words of "the
wolves—the gracious ladies—the noble hound
—the storm—the broken sleigh—the snow
wreaths;" the panting horses were led back
to the stable, and the rescued ladies and the
well-patted hound, to a room blazing with
light, and the genial warmth of a comfortable
fire.

Eric did not follow them, but as soon as
he had consigned them to the care of the
landlady, he called the landlord, who, after
listening to him with respect, said, "Yes,
your excellency," and vanished. In a few
minutes, a saddle-horse was led to the door,
and the landlord, after placing some pistols in
the holsters, looked to the girths himself,
and held the stirrup whilst Eric mounted,
and watched him along until he had vanished
down the street.

CHAPTER THE SECOND.

WHEN the rescued ladies, who were
evidently sisters, were left alone in the room to
which they had been conducted, they threw
themselves into each other's arms, and kissed
each other with an affection heightened by
the joy of their miraculous escape. She who