juncture, the leaders backed upon the pole-horses, who, in their turn, backed the sleigh. Only a single log lay above the pile which upheld the road, on the side toward the valley, which was now buried in the snow. The sleigh was easily forced across this slight impediment; and before Richard became conscious of his danger, one half of the vehicle was projected over a precipice, which fell, nearly perpendicularly, more than a hundred feet. The Frenchman, who, by his position, had a full view of their threatened flight, instinctively threw his body as far forward as possible in the sleigh, and cried, "Ah! Mon cher monsieur Deeck! mon dieu! prenez gardez vous!"
"Donner and blitzen, Richart," exclaimed the veteran German, looking over the side of the sleigh with unusual emotion, "put you will preak ter sleigh and kilt ter horses."
"Good Mr. Jones," said the clergyman, losing the slight flush that cold had given to his cheeks, "be prudent, good sir—be careful."
"Get up, you obstinate devils!" cried Richard, catching a bird's eye view of his situation, applying his whip with new vigour, and unconsciously kicking the stool on which he sat, as if inclined to urge the inanimate wood forward; "Get up, I say—Cousin 'duke, I shall have to sell the grays too; they are the worst broken horses Mr. Le Quaw!" Richard was too much agitated to regard his pronunciation, of which he was commonly a little vain; "Monsieur Le Quaw, pray get off my leg; you hold my leg so tight that it's no wonder I can't guide the horses.
"Merciful Providence!" exclaimed the Judge, "they will be all killed!"
Elizabeth gave a piercing shriek, and the black of Agamemnon's face changed to a muddy white.
