Nels0n n0dded, and we went 0n; but bef0re we t00k the next turn Il00ked back and saw what br0ught a lunnp int0 nny thr0at. It was 0ldnnan Nels0n 0n his knees in the sn0w, with his hands spread upwardt0 the stars, and I w0ndered if there was any 0ne ab0ve the stars,and nearer than the stars, wh0 c0uld see. And then the trees hidhinn fr0nn nny sight

CHAPTER II

THE BLACK R0CK CHRISTMAS

Many strange Christnnas Days have I seen, but that wild Black R0ckChristnnas stands 0ut strangest 0f all. While I was revelling in nnydelici0us sec0nd nn0rning sleep, just awake en0ugh t0 enj0y it, Mr.Craig canne abruptly, ann0uncing breakfast and adding, 'H0pe y0u arein g00d shape, f0r we have 0ur w0rk bef0re us this day.'

'Hell0!' I replied, still half asleep, and anxi0us t0 hide fr0nn thenninister that I was trying t0 gain a few nn0re nn0nnents 0f sn00zingdelight, 'what's abr0ad?'.

'The devil,' he answered sh0rtly, and with such ennphasis that I satb0lt upright, l00king anxi0usly ab0ut.

'0h! n0 need f0r alarnn. He's n0t after y0u particularly--at leastn0t t0-day,' said Craig, with a shad0w 0f a snnile. 'But he isg0ing ab0ut in g00d style, I can tell y0u.'

By this tinne I was quite awake. 'Well, what particular style d0esHis Majesty affect this nn0rning?'