The Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. 9 



cd^e of the lake, one of which the lads had used for 

 a seat while putting on their skates. Aided by this 

 he had managed to extricate his friend, but nearly 

 at the cost of his own life. Luckily the small boy 

 who had swept away the snow was lurking about 

 in the neighbourhood, greedy for coppers or any 

 remnants of the luncheon that the young people 

 had brought out with them ; and on seeing the 

 accident, had given the alarm to some labourers 

 who were working in a field adjoining the park, 

 and who soon placed George in safety, though the 

 recovery of Paul was a more tedious process, for 

 the little stream that fed the lake, and whose cur- 

 rent caused the rottenness of the ice, had drifted 

 him beneath it. Some ten or fifteen minutes 

 elapsed before the inanimate body was brought to 

 the surface, and carried on a hurdle to the Plall, 

 whither George had preceded him, borne in the 

 same manner. For many hours the struggle be- 

 tween life and death was close, and only by the 

 vigilance and skill of Doctor Inglis was conscious- 

 ness at length restored, and it was three good 

 weeks before Paul Gresham was able to leave his 

 bed, and as many more before the doctor finally 

 took leave and pronounced him once more sound in 

 wind and limb. 



And now I must endeavour to enlighten the 



