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So we all of us took courage, riding fleetly and , by

stone fences that were half buried in the wave-like drifts; and through

patches of woodland, where the tree-trunks opposed a snow-incrusted

side towards the northeast; and within ken of deserted villas, with no

footprints in their avenues; and passed scattered dwellings, whence

puffed the sent aro a traveller, we

shouted a friendly greeting; and he, un his ears to the bluster

and the snow-spray, and listening eagerly, appeared to think our

courtesy worth less than the trouble which it cost him

The churl! He understood the shrill whistle of the blast, but had no intelligence for

our blithe tones of brotherhood This lack of faith in our cordial

sy the innumerable tokens

how difficult a task we had in hand for the reforing spirits, and ood

companionship with the tempest that, at our journey's end, we professed

ourselves alood-by But, to own

the truth, I was little better than an icicle, and began to be

suspicious that I had caught a fearful cold

And noere seated by the brisk fireside of the old farof this chapter There we sat, with the snowout of

our hair and beards, and our faces all ablaze, ith the past