storm came on, and it grew so dark that a great curtain seemed to be drawn over the sky. I groped my way onward, well knowing that a false step would send me toppling down into the fearful depths beneath.

4. As the last rays of light died out, I turned cautiously towards a slope of rock to seek for shelter. I saw what seemed to me a cave, into which I crept. The darkness soon became intense, and with joy I thought of my match-box. If I struck the matches about one a minute, they would not only help me through the darkness, but they might guide those who were looking for me to my place of shelter.

5. I struck a light, and on looking round was horrified to see two great yellowish-green balls of fire which seemed to glare at me from the dark end of the cave. For a moment I did not move, and then I began to ask myself whether it was not all fancy. So I thought I would strike another light; but the box had fallen in the snow, and all the matches were spoiled.

6. Now what was I to do? If I went out of the cave I should be frozen to death; while to remain in the cave near those dreadful balls of fire was almost enough to drive one mad: so I curled myself up as small as possible, and lay shivering. After the lapse of what I then took to be hours, but which I now know could have been but a few minutes, something soft came against my knees and elbows.

7. I dashed out my fist, and felt it sink a foot

deep in the soft snow, which had drifted up against the opposite side of the cavern till it fell over on me. I knew that I was being snowed up, and that I must either go nearer those dreadful balls, which by this time I was sure were no fancy, and which I felt certain were looking towards me through the darkness, or I must stay where I was, to be buried alive.

8. How I came to a decision I cannot tell; but at last I moved further into the cavern, and lay down again. In a moment or two, although surrounded by danger, I began to find myself actually going quietly to sleep. I had no notion then that that sleep would have been the sleep of death.

9. In another minute or so I felt a breath of warm air on my face; but I was too sleepy to move; then I felt four weights press, one after the other, upon my body, and at last a soft heavy weight sank down upon me. I guessed it was an animal of some kind, and of this I felt quite sure when a muzzle was placed close to my mouth.

10. In a short time, incredible as it may seem, all my fear had gone, and I found myself growing grateful to this creature, for he made me so good a blanket that the heat came back to my body, and the strange sleepiness disappeared.

II. I do not know how long I had thus lain, when I heard a distant bark, which disturbed the regular breathings of my hairy friend, and I felt his big heart beat quicker above me. Again there was a bark, which sounded much nearer than the first. 1 Incredible, unworthy of belief.

As my blanket heard it, he uttered a half-growl and leapt off me.

12. The barking and the start of the animal roused me; so that I plunged through the snow which was above my head, to the entrance of the cave. I found the whole mountains were light

again with the stars and the rising moon, for the storm was over. To my unspeakable joy a great dog leapt upon me, and placed a fore-paw upon each of my shoulders, while not far off I saw a monk coming towards me.

13. I afterwards learnt that when my friends missed me, the guide, who knew that the storm would soon be upon them, refused to turn back, and said that they would be fortunate if they themselves managed to reach the monastery of St. Bernard in

safety. They reached the convent just as the storm began, and the monks sent out their noble dogs to seek me, though they had but little hope of saving my life.

14. When I arrived at the monastery I was welcomed so kindly, that you might have thought that my friends had not seen me for a year. They were very anxious to hear my adventures; but when I told them of the two balls of fire, and of the heavy animal who had made himself my blanket, they laughed, and said I was telling them a traveller's tale. They were still laughing, when my eyes fell on my great-coat, which was hanging on a chair, and I at once pointed to some yellowish hairs sticking to it. This was evidence of the truth of my tale, and I became quite a hero.

15. The next morning, when we were all assembled for breakfast, the young monk who had discovered me said, that out of curiosity he had been to the cave, which was not far from the convent, and in it he had found an immense wolf frozen to death, for the cold of the night had been intense. 16. I begged his body of the the skin home, and had it stuffed. into the room in which he lies,

monks, brought

Whenever I go and the sun is

shining on his glass eyes, I find myself giving a start, as if he were still alive, and as if I were still lying under my terrible blanket.

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.

1. UNDER a spreading chestnut tree
The village smithy stands ;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.

2. His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
His face is like the tan;

His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns whate'er he can,

And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man,

3. Week in, week out, from morn till night, You can hear his bellows blow;

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,
With measured beat and slow,
Like a sexton ringing the village bell,
When the evening sun is low.

4. And children coming home from school Look in at the open door;

They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar,

And catch the burning sparks that fly

Like chaff from a threshing-floor.