184 ON THE FEONT1EE, 



It was late about eleven o'clock and the interest of 

 pursuit being over, I realised how tired both I and my horse 

 were, and how cold it had become, and so dismounted, un- 

 saddled, lit a fire to warm myself at, and then rubbed my 

 good steed down to refresh him. That done, I replaced the 

 saddle, fastening it loosely on, and started for camp on foot, 

 leading my horse by the bridle-rein. Though the moon 

 was no longer up, the night being clear, the stars shining 

 brightly, and the snow reflecting considerable diffused 

 light, travelling was not difficult ; and being only about 

 eight miles from home, I hoped to arrive there without delay 

 or difficulty. 



I was in a portion of the valley I had only been in once 

 or twice before, and then it had been daylight, with no 

 snow on the ground ; but these circumstances were now 

 reversed, and the changed aspect of the country was quite 

 bewildering. 



The uncertain light, the confusion of outlines caused by 

 the pervading mantle of white, the strange exaggerations that 

 the strong white lights and deep black shadows gave to every 

 crest and peak of the surrounding mountains, made the 

 scene look not only quite new and strange, but as unearthly 

 and unreal as it was unfamiliar. 



More than once I had to reason myself into the belief that 

 I was still in the Wet-mountain Valley, and not in some, 

 to me, unknown region, or in Dreamland. Had I allowed 

 myself to become in the least confused or bewildered as to 

 my course I should infallibly have lost my way, perhaps 

 my life. 



At last, tired, hungry, and cold, I arrived in camp. 



