what impression she had made on you, if you did not love her?"

"I do not love her, Carl, and I do not wish to love her."

"Not wish to love her! Why, Eric, what on earth do you mean?"

"Would you have me find that my angel, my vision of purity and holiness, was nothing but a mere woman, perhaps a captious one, too; enough to drive one mad with whims and follies of all sorts? Besides, Inever mean to be in love if I can help it. But, hark! What is that?"

"It is the moaning of the wind," said Carl. "No!" he exclaimed, springing up in his seat, as a shrill, wild, piercing cry for help, rang through the still night. "Hear that cry."

"Sit down, Carl, I beseech you," said Eric; "you will upset the sleigh! Look at the horses, how they tremble. I can scarcely manage them as it is, they are so wild. That is the baying of a hound, a wolf hound," he said, listening to fresh sounds, his head bent, at the same time that he kept urging his horses on, continually and smartly applying the lash to them, without which goad they would certainly have come to a stand-still. "That is the yell of a wolf!" he exclaimed, as a loud yell reached their ears, whilst wild shrieks again followed in quick succession, and then a cry of agony and terror, so prolonged, that the blood froze in the veins of the listeners.

"That is the cry of a horse beset by wolves," said Carl, the truth now flashing upon him. "Let me out, Eric, let me out, that I may fly to their assistance. Where is my rifle ?"

"Šit still, Carl, I implore you; our only chance of getting up to them in time for help, is to trust to the speed of our horses, if I can only keep them going. Get the pistols ready! they are loaded. Can you manage to get at my hunting-knife? it is in the case which the landlord put under the

seat."

"All right," said Carl, who having secured the weapons, now sat, his teeth clenched, his eyes straining forward in the direction from which the cries seemed to

come.

"There they are," he exclaimed at last, "right ahead. Heaven! there is a sleigh and two women in it; the horses are on the ground, and there is a battle going on between a wolf and a large hound."

The bright light of the moon revealed

the scene distinctly to the eyes of the two young men. Eric forced his now frantic horses alongside the sleigh which Carl had described. Standing upright in this was a young girl, clasping in her arms another, who appeared to have fainted. Her hood and cloak had fallen off, and her golden curls streamed in the winds from under a light blue Polish cap, bordered with ermine; her large blue eyes were raised to heaven as if seeking from thence that help which her wild cries had vainly implored from earth.

Eric stood for an instant transfixed in amazement, but it was only for an instant: the next moment both he and Carl had sprung to the ground.

"Lay hold of the horses' heads, Carl! Don't let them go, for God's sake! We shall need their best speed soon."

Seizing his pistols and the hunting-knife, Eric ran round to the side where the battle was going on between a large wolf and a magnificent wolf-hound. This latter had seized his antagonist by the throat with a gripe the wolf tried in vain to escape from. They now rolled over and over on the snow together; fierce snorts coming from the hound, and faint, stifled cries from the wolf. As Eric approached the scene of the fray, two wolves who had been gorging themselves on a prostrate horse lying behind the ladies' sleigh, sprang fiercely upon him. These, however, he soon dispatched, after some little difficulty; one he shot through the brain, so close to his own face, that the flash of the pistol scorched his eyes; the other received a thrust from his hunting-knife, which penetrated his lungs, and he fell beside his companion, suffocated in his own blood. Eric, once more free, approached to the help of the noble hound. It was well nigh time. The wolf had extricated his throat from his teeth, and was now making strenuous efforts to free himself from the gripe which the desperate hound still fastened on him. It was some time before Eric could give him any help, so closely were the two antagonists locked together. At last, watching his opportu nity, he was able, by a well-directed blow, to plunge his knife into him. The wolf rolled over, dyeing the trampled snow with the life-blood streaming from his wound. The hound rose slowly, shook himself well, and then rushed to the sleigh and leaped fawning upon his young mistress.

“ (

like, I thin sion.

Carl stepped into the sleigh. Eric, gathering up the reins, settled down into his place; the bear-skins were spread over them, and tucked in all round; and then, with a good-night to all, responded to by a chorus of grooms and stable-helps, who had gathered round to see the handsome sleigh and the beautiful English horses, he gave a touch of the lash to these last, and they bounded forward, the sleigh skating smoothly over the frozen snow. The silver harness glittered in the bright moonshine, and the silver bells tinkled merrily in the cold night air, as they left the streets of Stettin, and emerged into the open country beyond. For some time they proceeded in silence, as if each were communing with his own thoughts, or were awed by the deep stillness of the night. Not a sound was to be had heard, not a creature to be seen. They I ha seemed to be traversing a vast desert of hea snow. Everything was wrapped in the vot same dazzling uniform, by which the eye dewas almost pained. The light of the moon, w reflected from the thousand points of snow, R sparkling like silver in its rays, was in- thi creased to an intensity which almost s equalled the light of day. The trees of I the forest, along which they now skirted, a stretched out their branches, encased in i sheaths of glittering crystal. At first, the moon reigned alone in the deep blue sky; but now, small fleecy clouds began to appear, every now and then overshadowing her brightness. Presently a low moaning sound began to make itself heard, as if the wind were rising in the depths of the leafless forest. Eric seemed to listen uneasily. and to watch anxiously these ominou signs.

"I hope we shall reach Kronenthal b fore a snow-storm sets in," said Carl; have no desire to be buried in a sno wreath."

"I do not think it will be here so soo answered his companion, "though I pect we shall have it here before l The sky looks a little brighter again! However, I will drive the horses as fa they like to go."

So saying, Eric touched their f slightly with the long lash of the whip, giving them their heads at the time. The noble creatures again bo forward with a speed which promi outstrip all pursuers, snow-storms

ed.

Meanwhile Carl struggled manfully with the plunging horses. It required the full strength of his nervous arm to keep them from galloping off wildly to the forest. But when the scuffle with the wolves was over, and Eric came round covered with blood and snow, he patted them, and the sound of his voice quieted them.

Eric then flew to the side of the ladies' sleigh. The wolf-hound stood with his paws on his mistress's knees, vainly trying to induce her to look up. She had sunk back on her seat. Her face was concealed in her hands, and she wept aloud. Her companion, still insensible, lay beside her, totally unconscious of the deliverance which had been wrought for them.

"Gracious lady," said Eric, in his gentlest tones, "you are safe now. Will you not look up and tell me whether there are any more of your party in need of our assistance?"

The young girl looked up, and said through her tears, that there were two men-servants with them; that one of them, who had been driving, had been thrown out of the sleigh when the wolves first attacked them, and another, on horseback, after trying in vain to stop the horses, who had galloped off in affright, had disappeared all at once, and she did not know what had become of him.

"Here he is!" said Carl, who having contrived to fasten Eric's horses, so that they should not escape, was searching in the wrecks around them. "Here is a poor fellow half smothered under his horse. I think the horse is dead. Yes; his throat is cut-no doubt, by the wolves' teeth."

"That is what those brutes were about when they jumped upon me, as I came round," ," said Eric, stooping to help Carl to remove the dead horse from the top of his rider, in 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. as fate; he said :

Carl was inexorable

"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. "Oh! why have you left your friend to save us-your friend whom you 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 beside 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 gray 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, af ter 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 II.

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 had fainted in the sleigh, seemed a year or two older than the sister who had supported her in her arms. She had hair rather darker than that of her sister, but there was a great likeness between them; and, except that she was a little taller, a stranger would have been puzzled for a time to distinguish between them. On closer observation, however, he would have found that they were dif ferent, especially in their eyes-those of the tallest being of a deep brown, whilst those of her younger sister were of that beautiful deep blue, which had so fascinanated Eric's gaze.

"Oh, Marie, Marie!" said the eldest to her golden-haired sister, "you must have thought it so cowardly in me to faint."

"No, dear Katrine! I never thought it cowardly. The sight was frightful enough. I certainly did feel, when you had fainted, as if you were dead, and I were left alone in the world-left to the mercy of the horrible wolves. And yet, not alone, either; did I forget you, dear old Schwartz ?" and the beautiful girl, kneeling down, flung her arms round the neck of the wolf-hound, who had been thrusting his black nose into her small white hand.

"Ah, noble Schwartz! ah, dear Schwartz! brave hound," said Katrine, kneeling in her turn to pat and kiss the delighted animal, whose huge feathery tail swept backwards and forwards on the ground.

"Katrine, do you know," said Marie, rising from beside the dog, "who it was that came to our rescue ?" "No," said her sister. "I did not see him at first, when the moon shone so brightly, and afterwards as we were in the sleigh with him it was so dark.”

"But I saw him well, there was no mistaking him; it was no less a person than our Roman artist; do you remember?