St. Nicholas (serial) (1873) (14593024750)

Identifier: stnicholasserial271dodg (find matches)
Title: St. Nicholas (serial)
Year: 1873 (1870s)
Authors: Dodge, Mary Mapes, 1830-1905
Subjects: Children's literature
Publisher: (New York : Scribner & Co.)
Contributing Library: Information and Library Science Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Digitizing Sponsor: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill



Text Appearing Before Image:
ot see him, and at last slowly crept onthrough the underwood. How long the little boy stayed in the peril-ous shelter of the chestnut-tree he never knew,but it seemed untold ages to him. After awhile the moon rose, and shed a faint lightthrough the close-lapping branches ; and then,by and by, Felixs ears, strained to listen forevery lightest sound, caught the echo of dis-tant tramping, as of horses hoofs, and pres-ently two horsemen came in sight, prickingtheir way cautiously along a narrow bridle-path. He did not know whom they might prove tobe, but wisely thinking that anything would bebetter than staying in a tree all night at themercy of hungry wolves, he waited till the firstrider came quite close, and then he pluckedup courage to call out faintly : Oh, sir, stop, Ipray thee! At this, the rider, who was none other thanthe noble Count Bernard of Bois Varne,quickly drew rein and, turning, called to hiscompanion : Ho, Brian! Heardest thou aught? Nay, my lord, answered Brian, who was
Text Appearing After Image:
heigh-ho! exclaimed the count, what art thou — boy or goblin? (see next page.) 230 FELIX. (Jan. some paces behind, naught save the tram-pling of our own horses hoofs. The count looked all around, and seeingnothing, thought himself mistaken in thesound, and began to pace on. Then Felix, interror, gave another shout, this time louder,and at the same moment a little twig he waspressing with his elbow broke away anddropped, striking against thecounts stirrup; for the bridle-path wound directly under thetree where Felix was perched. The count instantly checkedhis horse again, and, peering upinto the boughs overhead, hecaught sight of Felix, his yel-low hair wet with dew andshining in the moonlight, andhis dark eyes wide with fear. Heigh-ho! exclaimed thecount, in blank amazement.Upon my word, now! what artthou—boy or goblin? At this Felix gave a littlesob, for he was very tired andvery cold. He hugged the treetightly, and, steadying himselfagainst the boughs, at lastmanaged to falter o