The bell was in the open air, and being overlaid with several inches of muffling snow, had lost its voice for the time.
About this hour the snow abated: ten flakes fell where twenty had fallen, then one had the room of ten.

Not long after a form moved by the brink of the river.
By its outline upon the colourless background, a close observer might have seen that it was small.

This was all that was positively discoverable, though it seemed human.
The shape went slowly along, but without much exertion, for the snow, though sudden, was not as yet more than two inches deep.

At this time some words were spoken aloud:-- "One.

Two.