CHAPTER HI. A SAVANT THAWED. |)ERGEANT LONG liastened to the narrow passage from ^J^ which opened the outer door of the fort, and heard the cries redoubled, and combined with violent blows on the postern gate, surrounded by high walls, which gave access to the court. The Sergeant pushed open the door, and plunging into the snow, already a foot deep ; he waded through it, although half- blinded by the cutting sleet, and nipped by the terrible cold. " What the devil does any one want at this time of night 1 " exclaimed the Sergeant to himself, as he mechanically removed the heavy bars of the gate ; " none but Esquimaux would dare to brave such a temperature as this ! " " Open 1 open 1 open ! " they shouted from without. "I am opening," replied Sergeant Long, who really seemed to be a long time about it. At last the door swung open, and the Sergeant was almost upset by a sledge, drawn by six dogs, which dashed past him like a flash of lightning. Worthy Sergeant Long only just escaped being crushed, but he got up without a murmur, closed the gate, and returned to the house at his ordinary pace, that is to say, at the rate of seventy- five .strides a minute. But Captain Craventy, Lieutenant Jaspar Hobspn, and Corporal Joliffe were already outside, braving the intense cold, and staring at the sledge, white with snow, which had just drawn up in front of them. A man completely enveloped in furs now descended from it. " Fort Reliance 1 " he inquired. " The same," replied the Captain. " Captain Craventy 1 " " Behold him ! Who are you ? "
- ' A courier of the Company."
" Are you alone ? '*
