It on at any price, whether she came or not. was a terrible scene, and I shall never forget it. were just beginning to descend to the steep rocky path when a tremendous crash and a piercing yell from Aunt Marylka made us gasp with fright. We stopped short and waited for the roll of the thunder to pass, before we heard Uncle Jurko calling out for help. Aunt Marylka's voice was no more to be heard. Kerek and my cousin made to the place as quickly as possible. Aunt Marylka lay insensible on the grass, and close by stood a pine tree struck by lightning, black as coal where it was split in two. Some of the dead branches had caught fire, though they could not burn for long in this deluge. Nothing had happened to Aunt Marylka, and perhaps it was a mercy that she was brought away insensible, for she would never have moved from the place. We were already in the wood when she began to open her eyes, and at once wanted to return, but they said it was too far and impossible to go back. We thought we had her fairly safe now, but not at all. Soon her hysterical crying and screaming began anew. "Move on in this storm!" No, that she would on no account. Did not all books say that movement and current of air attracted lightning? And saying that, she tore herself from their supporting arms and reached a fir-tree, to which she clung resolutely. In vain did we try to assure her that in such a thunderstorm a firtree was the most dangerous refuge it was useless. The guide was furious, and wanted The lightning flashed incessantly across the dark wood with dazzling brightness, and the crashing right and left among the trees was more than any one could reasonably endure. The wind blew the tree tops with such fearful violence against each other, and tore them away again, that branches broke off and were carried far before they reached the thickly strewn ground. It was getting blacker every minute, and the uncanny scream of the wild birds of prey added to the unpleasant gloom of the dark forest. I must confess I shook with fright on my saddle, and was beyond the stage of speech, expecting every moment to be struck by lightning, or crushed by the fall of a tree. It was hardly possible to believe that this was the same quiet and peaceful wood we had traversed a few hours before. While we stood uncertain what to do with my aunt, a deafening crash close by announced the fall of a tree. It was all so quick that we had not time to see where it fell, when a shower of something black rained on Aunt Marylka's head. In an instant she was up, running away from under the tree, screaming, "I am killed! I am killed! the lightning struck me head-help, help!" Before we had time to say or do anything, Ivan rushed to the place and began stuffing his pockets full on my of this "lightning," which which now. But, as I have already It seemed to me as if we had marched thus for days, not hours, so interminable did it appear. The ponies went on slipping and sliding, more often sticking in the mud altogether. The path was so steep, that after a few hours my back was almost breaking with the effort of holding back, and I am sure the poor pony must have had quite enough of wading in mud up to its shoulders. We were all glad when the storm gradually calmed down, and we began to see through the trees what looked like green mountain pastures. In another ten minutes we had reached the spot. The "green pastures" turned out to be an endless succession of bogs, with here and there a bush or patch of grass between them. Having remembered my unpleasant adventure of the morning, I took care to go first this time, but only made another mistake. If the path was muddy this morning, I might have thought that after this deluge a regular bog would be more like a lake nor anybody else, managed to get out of my saddle, and, half wading, half swimming, reached one of the little islands with a bush on it. As I climbed out I felt as if I were clad in lead, but why this should set the party into a fit of laughter I did not see, and felt most indignant. Meanwhile there I stood, all by myself, with a sea of bog around me. Instead of helping me out of my trouble, the whole attention was now given to the pony, which, following his own instinct, had not come with me, but made his way to a thick cluster of bushes on the other side, evidently judging that there the water could not be so deep. He proved to be right. With some difficulty he scrambled out and began making his way through the bushes. To our astonishment me my lost property. I had we found he did not sink deeper than the knees, while the thick branches of the hazel bushes brushed off the mud which covered him like a coat. Before long we saw him reappearing on the far side of the bog, evidently much pleased with himself, kicking his heels in the air and rolling on the wet grass. The guide and party at once decided to follow the intelligent animal. This was all very well, but I still sat wet and forlorn on my little island! There was no help for it; if I wanted to follow the others, I had to swim back through the bog, It was a short space, not more than six yards, nevertheless deep and horribly dirty. One by one I saw the ponies disappearing among the bushes, and only my cousin was left. I had to make up my mind. He threw me a rope, to which I clung and struggled through the black mud. My troubles were by no means at an end. I was hardly out when I saw my cousin pointing to the island, with an awestruck look on his face. I turned my head expecting to see at least a crocodile, or something equally impossible but no, it was nothing, nothing at all,-only my Rucksack with my cloak and all my possessions peeping out impertinently ! I turned away disgusted. "I am not going back," I said, not meaning to lay any challenge in the tone, though I am afraid it must have sounded remark.ably like it. Before I could prevent it he threw off his coat, swam across, and brought not expected such heroism, and was about to thank him, but he stopped me short, saying, "I thought we might as well make a pair of niggers while we were at it, in this mad caravan." His pony had doggedly followed the others' steps, so we had the pleasant prospect of passing the bridge of bushes on foot. Dirty as we were, I thought it would help to clean us, as it did the pony. But I forgot that sixteen muddy horses had passed before, and made unpleasant discoveries when I tried in vain to shield my hair and eyes from the dripping branches which every now and then flung back to my face. When we reached the little field, we found the caravan in a great state of commotion. What my aunt had said or done I never quite made out, but the result was that the guide jumped on his horse and made off. We stared aghast, when Kerek saved us by making a detour, and crossing his path offered him his cognac flask: it was accepted without ceremony. While he sipped the brandy through the narrow top he assured my cousin that he'd rather never drink another glass of Wódki than make another expedition with the “Pani.” The bottle being empty, he complained that his limbs were stiff and wet, enough to give him rheumatism for the rest of his life, and he was not going to trudge on in the mud leading the "Pani's" horse any longer; he had had enough of her! He knew of a wood the hut, which had neither cutter's hut not far off, where there was no other furniture in there was some good Wódki, and there he would warm his wet body inside and out! This was true enough, as to the cold; though in August, I myself stood shivering from head to foot, and his thin linen costume did not look very comforting! So we hung round him our biggest cape, and promised him an extra Krone were we allowed to share the woodcutter's fire if not the Wódki. He agreed to this compromise, and soon we all sat huddled together on the floor of the hut, round an enormous fire of logs and fir cones. When we were warmed and comforted with hot milk and cheese, we began to look round the little den and at the wood-cutters themselves. One of them sat crouched on a log in a corner, while the other watched us furtively from outside through a gap in the logs which did duty as door. We could not at first understand their demeanour, but soon saw that it was due to extreme fear and shyness-though one would not have guessed it from their appearance. Giants in size and strength, with a mass of tangled black hair reaching to the waist, they presented a wild and savage appearance which ill accorded with ideas of fear. Their coarse linen costume was soaked in tar, to keep out the cold and "insects," as they candidly explained; also it did not tear so easily, and did not show the dirt, and as they only possessed one of these precious garments, it was perhaps as well. They slept on the floor, which was trodden-down earth, and except a few milk vessels I It left on me a deep impression, and seemed so beautifully adapted to the still mountain forest. As I sat in my saddle watching the mountain path, I seemed to picture the whole life of those quaint, silent woodcutters in those notes, sometimes sad and monotonous, then suddenly a rise queer and beautiful, and before my mind I saw the glorious sunrise in the mountains, and seemed to hear the twitter of birds; then again the low growling thunder in the distance, and felt with them lonely and frightened. As we descended, the sound grew fainter and fainter; now and then a rise in the note seemed to say Good-bye,-and then all was quiet. The saddles crunched; a few birds said timidly Good night, and crept into their damp nests. When we came out of the wood it was almost night, though the sun was loath to depart, having been hidden so long behind those black clouds. The storm had long passed and gone; the little valley looked so still and peaceful that it all seemed more like a dream than past danger. We were glad of a little peace after the events of the day, and rode on in silence, enjoying the calm, cool evening air that is to say, all except Aunt Marylka. As soon as she had reached the smooth grass path, and seen that the pony was as quiet as a dead tired animal, her spirits rose as the pony's sank. Now that there was no more danger to be anticipated she showed incredible courage! First she proposed a race, determined the while that she would win and her fame spread in the country, but as she was the only competitor she had to give up the idea. Then she begged me to give a few "Jodler to announce our arrival to the village, and secure as many spectators as possible; above all, that the Zulinskis, who no doubt would meet us, should see her as long as she still sat on the horse looking so fresh and brave, if one can call a tired and lame pack - pony a horse at all! My attempt at "Jodling" only startled the poor animals, who lifted up their heads as if to say, "What more? Have we not endured enough?" And then their heads sank again, half dead, but brave to the end. was The country road reached, already the first huts appeared, when Aunt Marylka, who now headed the caravan, turned round to announce that we would all canter into the village at full speed singing as loud as we could. She had dismissed the guide, and forbade him to come near her horse. In her eyes it looked helpless and cowardly, and nobody should ever think that she required assistance. Most of us had got off to relieve the ponies, and told her we had no intention of making a display at the cost of the poor beasts. She was first filled with astonishment, then with contempt. "Aha, so we were cowards, were we?" She had suspected it all along. supposed the road was too bumpy for us to risk a fall; no doubt for such bad riders it was safer to keep to their feet, and so on. Altogether she was much put out with us for spoiling her victorious entry to the village as she had imagined it -in full gallop, singing and "Jodling," brandishing our lanterns, till the whole village roused would stand at its doors to marvel at her skill and daring! She Thus ended the marvellous expedition to the Roaro! CHRISTINE VON FERRO. |