shed one fish and the duckling--"cheer up, Nell,
we'll stay here long enough to get up a stock o' dried meat, and then
set off again. I only wish it would come frost, to make our fish keep."

Roy's wish was gratified sooner than he expected, and much more fully
than he desired.

CHAPTER TEN.

CHANGES, SLIDING, FISHING, ETCETERA.

That night King Frost spread his wings over the land with unwonted
suddenness and rigour, insomuch that a sheet of ice, full an inch thick,
sealed up the waters of Silver Lake.

Roy and Nelly had feasted heartily, and had piled wood on the fire so
high that the hut was comparatively warm, and they slept soundly till
morning: but, about sunrise, the fire having died out, they both awoke
shivering with cold. Being _very_ sleepy, they tried for some time to
drop off again in spite of the cold. Failing in this, Roy at last
jumped up with vigour and said he would light the fire, but he had
scarcely issued from the hut, when a shout brought Nelly in alarm and
haste to his side.

If Silver Lake was worthy of its name before, it was infinitely more
worthy of it now. The sun had just over-topped the opposite ridge, and
was streaming over a very world of silver. The frozen lake was like a
sheet of the purest glass, which reflected the silvery clouds and white
rolling mists of morning as perfectly in their form as the realities
that floated in the blue sky. Every tree, every twig, seemed made of
silver, being encased in hoar-frost, and as these moved very gently in
the calm air--for there was no breeze--millions of crystalline points
caught the sun's rays and scattered them around with dazzling lustre.
Nature seemed robed in cloth of diamonds; but the comparison is feeble,
for what diamonds, cut by man, can equal those countless crystal gems
that are fashioned by the hand of God to decorate, for an hour or two,
the spotless robe of a winter morning?

Had Roy been a man and Nelly a woman, the two would probably have cast
around a lingering glance of admiration, and then gone quietly about
their avocations; but, being children, they made up their minds, on the
spot, to enjoy the state of things to the utmost. They ran down to the
lake and tried the ice. Finding that it was strong enough to bear them,
they advanced cautiously out upon its glassy surface; then they tried to
slide, but did not succeed well, owing to their soft mocassins being ill
adapted for sliding. Then they picked up st