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The brightsun dazzled the eyes, the snow had ceased, the ht that the

new sensation of breathing it was like the having entered on a new

existence

To help the delusion, the solid ground itself see waste of iion of cloud floating between the blue sky above and the earth

far below

Some dark specks in the snow, like knots upon a little thread, beginning

at the convent door and winding away down the descent in broken lengths

which were not yet pieced together, shohere the Brethren were at

work in several places clearing the track Already the snow had begun to

be foot-thawed again about the door Mules were busily brought out, tied

to the rings in the wall, and laden; strings of bells were buckled

on, burdens were adjusted, the voices of drivers and riders sounded

musically Some of the earliest had even already resumed their journey;

and, both on the level summit by the dark water near the convent, and on