shot down into
the forest, throwing a pale light over the cold scene. A few steps
brought Harry and the accountant to the spot whence the sound had
proceeded, and a loud, startling laugh rang through the night air, as
the latter suddenly beheld poor Hamilton struggling, with his arms,
head, and shoulders stuck into the snow, his snow-shoes twisted and
sticking with the heels up and awry, in a sort of rampant confusion, and
his gun buried to the locks beside him. Regaining one's perpendicular
after a fall in deep snow, when the feet are encumbered by a pair of
long snow-shoes, is by no means an easy thing to accomplish, in
consequence of the impossibility of getting hold of anything solid on
which to rest the hands. The depth is so great that the outstretched
arms cannot find bottom, and every successive struggle only sinks the
unhappy victim deeper down. Should no assistance be near, he will soon
beat the snow to a solidity that will enable him to rise, but not in a
very enviable or comfortable condition.

"Give me a hand, Harry," gasped Hamilton, as he managed to twist his
head upwards for a moment.

"Here you are," cried Harry, holding out his hand and endeavouring to
suppress his desire to laugh; "up with you," and in another moment the
poor youth was upon his legs, with every fold and crevice about his
person stuffed to repletion with snow.

"Come, cheer up," cried the accountant, giving the youth a slap on the
back; "there's nothing like experience--the proverb says that it even
teaches fools, so you need not despair."

Hamilton smiled as he endeavoured to shake off some of his white
coating.

"We'll be all right immediately," added Harry; "I see that the country
ahead is more open, so the walking will be easier."

"Oh, I wish that I had not come!" said Hamilton, sorrowfully, "because I
am only detaining you. But perhaps I shall do better as we get on. At
any rate I cannot go back now, as I could never find the way."

"Go back! of course not," said the accountant; "in a short time we shall
get into the old woodcutters' track of last year, and although it's not
beaten at all, yet it is pretty level and open, so that we shall get on
famously."

"Go on then," sighed Hamilton.

"Drive ahead," laughed Harry; and without further delay they resumed
their march, which was soon rendered more cheerful as the clouds rolled
away, the snow ceased to fall, and the bright, full moon poured its rays
down upon th