Virginia pulled the robe up over her head. I had
to face the storm and manage my team; but before I had gone forty rods,
I saw that I was asking too much of them; and I let them turn to beat
off with it. At that moment I really abandoned control, and gave it over
to the wind and snow. But I thought myself steering for my own house. I
was not much worried; having the confidence of youth and strength. The
cutter was low and would not tip over easily. The horses were active and
powerful and resolute. We were nested down in the deep box, wrapped in
the warmest of robes; and it was not yet so very cold--not that cold
which draws down into the lungs; seals the nostrils and mouth; and
paralyzes the strength. That cold was coming--coming like an army with
banners; but it was not yet here. I was not much worried until I had
driven before the wind, beating up as much as I could to the east,
without finding my house, or anything in the way of grove or fence to
tell me where it was. I now remembered that I had not mounted the hill
on which my house stood. In fact, I had missed my farm, and was lost, so
far as knowing my locality was concerned: and the wind was growing
fiercer and the cold more bitter.
For a moment I quailed inwardly; but I felt Virginia snuggled down by me
in what seemed to be perfect trust; and I brushed the snow from my
eye-opening and pushed on--hoping that I might by pure accident strike
shelter in that wild waste of prairie, and determined to make the fight
of my life for it if I failed.
Pages:
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425