mber would be required, as usual,
in Saxony and Hanover. As a rule, neither of the contending armies
interfered with the river traffic; though communications by land
were greatly interrupted, owing to the peasants' carts being
impressed for military service. This, and the anxiety of everyone
for the safety of his home and belongings, brought the trade
between the countries to a standstill.

On the river, however, the difficulty consisted, not in any
interference by the authorities, but from so large a number of the
able-bodied men being called out for service that the amount of
timber cut and brought down was greatly diminished, while the needs
of the army brought the trade in cattle and other produce to an
entire cessation.

The dangers of the river were not great; although in spring, when
the snow melted and the river was swollen, navigation was rendered,
especially in the narrow reaches of the defile, difficult and
dangerous; for the force of the stream was so great that it was
well-nigh impossible to direct the course of the rafts, and indeed
the poles used for that purpose were often found too short to reach
the bottom.

The men were up long before daylight; but it was two hours later
before Fergus roused himself and, shaking off the fine snow that
had drifted in and lay thickly on his coat, went out to have a look
at things. One of the men was already preparing breakfast. Two of
the others stood at the bow with long poles, with which they punted
the boat along. The captain, also provided with a pole, stood in
the stern.

The snow had ceased, but the air felt sharp and cold as it came
down from the hills, which were all thickly covered.

"So there is an end of the snow, for the present, captain," he
said, as he pushed aside the curtain of reeds that closed the stern
of the covered portion, and joined him.

"Yes. I am not altogether sorry, for we can see where we are going.
We shall keep on, now, until we are through the defile."

"But there is no moon, captain."

"No, but we can tell pretty well, by the depth of water, where we
are; and can manage to keep in the middle of the current. There are
no obstructions there to affect us, though in some places there are
plenty of ugly rocks near the shore. However, if we have luck we
shall be through before midnight, and shall pass all the worst
points before sunset."

The day passed, indeed, without adventure of any kind. The journey
was highly interesting to