A few yards in front of us lay the road--snowy, but practicable; but we could not reach it.

We swayed backward and forward; we tilted up and down; Charles whistled, and made divers consolatory and encouraging sounds to the bay horse; but the bay horse began to plunge--he made a side movement--one wheel crunched down through the ice in the ditch, and all was over--at least, all in the cart were.

We fell soft--I most providentially alighting on the groom, who was young, and inclined to be plump, and thus breaking a fall which to a heavy man of my age might have been serious.

Charles and Ralph were up in a moment.
"I thought I could not do it; but it was worth a trial," said Charles, shaking himself.

"George, look after the horse and cart, and take them straight back.