wn the steep bank and up the other side on to the
track again, while the others pushed the car across the partially-open
space. Then the horse was hitched up anew, the car started, and our
guests again darkened the doorway. But the culverts multiplied, and as
the same process must be gone through with each one, the gentlemen gave
up trying to come under shelter between-times, and patiently plodded
along in the deep snow behind the car.

By and by the horse began to show signs of giving out, and the old mode
of pushing was resorted to in order to help him. But he was young and
easily tired, and finally the driver said he must not draw any more; so
he was unhitched, the boy was paid and dismissed, the men bent their
weary backs again to grasp the low doorsill, and we creaked along more
slowly than ever.

At last the lights of Corning became visible, and the work immediately
stopped. We were within about a mile of the town, and the director now
proposed that his two companions should go on and return with a
conveyance, while he remained in charge of us. This was done, and in
less time than it had taken to procure a steed for our railway vehicle
our deliverers appeared in the road below us, looking very grand in a
large sleigh carrying lamps, filled with fur robes, and drawn by two
fiery black horses that promised to bring our prolonged discomforts to a
speedy close. But how to reach this tantalizing object? The railway was
on an embankment, and between us and the road was another ridge, a deep
ditch filled with half-frozen water lying between. The young men debated
for a few moments, and at last went to a neighboring fence and broke off
a long board, which they brought and laid across from the track to the
ridge; and then one of them stood nearly knee-deep in the ditch and
supported the board on his shoulder, while the other climbed up the
ridge and told the director to hand us over, one at a time, as far as
his arm would extend, and he would reach out to us from the other side.
In this way we all passed over safely, and had no further mishap,
excepting that once the horses became unmanageable, and we came very
near being run away with on our way to the hotel.

As we drove up to the door the landlord appeared, rubbing his hands and
chuckling, just as he had done on our departure, and crying out, "Didn't
I tell you I should see you again to-day? and it hasn't struck twelve
yet! And I told you, too, that I would have a goo