Page:Through South Westland.djvu/31

Rh in gold and orange as it caught their edges. We watched it spread from bank to bank. Then came another change. The gold turned rosy red, then crimson, deeper and deeper, till all the clouds were blood-red, and we rode on in a darkening world, our eyes fixed on the glory above. It passed as suddenly as it came, and nought was left but a clear green streak of sky above the snow to show whence the glory had come; and then suddenly we realized it was dark, that we were tired, and the night grown chilly, and if we meant to arrive in any decent time that night, we must bestir ourselves. There were still seven miles to do, but we were sure of our welcome, no matter at what untimely hour we arrived. At last in the dusk we rode up to the hospitable door, and the Master of Mt. Torlesse met us with a hearty greeting and bustled off the horses, making mental notes as to how unmilitary our pack-straps and accoutrements were, compared with his beautiful equipment! In fact, when we made our start two days later, we found many little alterations had been instituted. I was supplied with a treasure in the shape of a nose-bag, into which went all the belongings I might want en route, without troubling to open a pack. After a day’s rest we were rattled up betimes, and by four a.m. the Master of Torlesse was supplying our wants with hot coffee, and lecturing us on straps and the proper rolling up of our kit; and then rode with us the first three or four miles, to put us on our