long journey.

The carriage procured for their journey was what is called a German
_batarde_, which is very similar to an English chariot with coach-box,
fixed upon a sleigh. Inside were O'Donahue and his young bride, McShane
preferring to ride outside on the box with Joey, that he might not be in
the way, as a third person invariably is, with a newly married couple.
The snow was many feet deep on the ground; but the air was dry, and the
sun shone bright. The bride was handed in, enveloped in a rich mantle
of sable; O'Donahue followed, equally protected against the cold; while
McShane and Joey fixed themselves on the box, so covered up in robes of
wolf-skins, and wrappers of bear-skins for their feet, that you could
see but the tips of their noses. On the front of the sleigh, below the
box of the carriage, were seated the driver and the courier; four fiery
young horses were pawing with impatience; the signal was given, and off
they went at the rate of sixteen miles an hour.

"Where's the guns, Joey, and the pistols, and the ammunition?" inquired
McShane; "we're going through a wild sort of country, I expect."

"I have put them in myself, and I can lay my hands on them immediately,
sir," replied Joey; "the guns are behind us, and your pistols and the
ammunition are at my feet; the captain's are in the carriage."

"That's all right, then; I like to know where to lay my hands upon my
tools. Just have the goodness to look at my nose now and then, Joey;
and if you see a white spot on the tip of it, you'll be pleased to tell
me, and I'll do the same for you. Mrs McShane would be anything but
pleased if I came home with only half a handle to my face."

The journey was continued at the same rapid pace until the close of the
day, when they arrived at the post-house; there they stopped, McShane
and Joey, with the assistance of the courier, preparing their supper
from the stores which they brought with them. After supper they
retired, O'Donahue and his wife sleeping in the carriage, which was
arranged so as to form a bed if required; while McShane and Joey made it
out how they could upon the cloaks and what little straw they could
procure, on the floor of the post-house, where, as McShane said the next
morning, they "had more bed-fellows than were agreeable, although he
contrived to get a few hours' sleep in spite of the jumping vagabonds."
When they rose the next morning, they found that the snow had just begun
to fall