The HoDic of the ]Volve>r)ic and Beaver. 103 



ground were thickly sprinkled with seed diamonds, 

 while the trunks of the trees caught a ruby hue, and 

 the snow became tinged with a delicate sea-shell 

 pink of exquisite beauty. Those who hav'e seen 

 some of the marvellous fairy transformation scent-s 

 in our Christmas pantomimes can, perhaps, form 

 some idea of the sight now presented to Paul's 

 admiring gaze, but in the former all is false and 

 the heavy atmosphere tainted with gas, whilst here 

 the air was dry and exhilarating, and nature needed 

 no sulphurous chemicals to throw a magic splendour 

 on the landscape. 



Pierre was in high spirits, and if a good appetite 

 waits only on a light heart, his breast must have 

 been singularly free from "carking care," for the 

 venison and fish vanished before his powerful jaws 

 with a rapidity that excited first the admiration 

 then the wonder of the beholders. As he ate he 

 kept up a running conversation, or perhaps it would 

 be more correct to say a steady fire of remarks, for 

 both the young men sat still listening and never 

 opening their lips. 



" Quatre moose, monsieur, two big vons, a bull 

 and a cow, and two petites — how you call it .'' — 

 calves. And I have see plenty tracks of marten, 

 and the trail of von big bear. Oh, if Monsieur 

 Tanner was only here for de hont !" and so on until 



