s like dust, then catching them and sending them horizontally
and at speed over the ground, till they could find a resting-place in
some drift that was forming on the north sides of fences, or peace
beneath the brambles of some ditch.

An hour or more before dark the wind increased, and was blowing a whole
gale. What fun to be out in that: come on!

It was not long before man and dog were away. The roads would be safe on
such a day as this; so, for once, the two trudged along till they
overtook two waggons. How big they looked in the smother, each with its
team of three--a pair in the shafts, and one more ahead as leader.
Talking was difficult, or well-nigh impossible; but at least they could
join the men, and shout a word or two at times.

On the weather side the great horses looked twice their size, plastered
as they were with snow, their manes and the hair about their huge feet
all matted with ice. But on the lee they looked different animals, for
their coats were darkened, being drenched with sweat: it was with
difficulty that they kept their feet, and their breath came heavily
through their nostrils as they struggled on.

Not that they had a heavy load to draw. The waggons were empty. They had
come in with a full load in the morning, intending to bring coal back.
"But how was 'em to do that, in weather the like of this; or on roads
same as these here? Nay, nay," shouted the rearmost carter, "we's for
getting home, empty or somehow, if so be as these here can keep their
feets. The road below the snow is ice, I tell ye--just ice; and, what's
more, Fiddlehill lies just ahead for we." The last words were punctuated
with the crack of a whip like a pistol-shot: all talk was dropped after
that for a while; the wind was growing fiercer.

Both waggons were painted yellow, picked out with scarlet; but the paint
that had looked brilliant in the sun of the harvest days looked tawdry
and dirty now against the snow, and every patch or scar of rough usage
was easily discernible. Now and then the wind came with a savage gust,
carrying stray straws out of one of the waggons, though snow was
collecting on the floor: on the other, the cords of a tarpaulin,
indifferently secured, were smacking the yellow sides like a lash. Some
of these sounds did not suit Murphy very well; but he had found out the
best and safest place, and was making his way as well as he could,
sheltered beneath the rearmost waggon and between the tall hind whe