“Well, you won’t have far to fall, so let that comfort you,” said Dexie, who was settling herself to her unusual position.  “Lift her up, Lancy.  There! now hold on tight, Elsie, for if you fall off we can’t stop to dig for you!” and the awkward riders moved slowly through the drifts, while Mr. Taylor and his son disappeared down the bank, and very soon their shouts told that the submerged horse was rescued.

The poor animal was thoroughly chilled, but warm rugs were spread over him, and when, in the shelter of the stable, he was rubbed and doctored, he seemed none the worse for his cold bath.  Meanwhile, the women in the house—­good Samaritans, if ever there were any—­had everything prepared for the comfort of the travellers.  Rousing fires were blazing in different rooms, and garments were being warmed before them, while a steaming kettle, containing some stimulating beverage, was waiting on the hearth.  When the half-frozen girls entered the house they received a warm welcome—­warm in more than one sense of the word, for the quick-handed women soon divested them of their wearing apparel and placed warm garments upon them—­and before they had time to realize the change, they found themselves seated before the fire, wrapped in warm blankets, sipping hot negus, a delicious sense of warmth seeming to pervade their whole being; but as Dexie possessed the most vitality she was the first to respond to the efforts put forth for their relief.

Elsie did not rally so quickly.  Her teeth chattered and her limbs trembled long after she thought she was well warmed, but her heart was full of gratitude as she said: 

“I did not know there were such good, kind people in the world.  It was almost worth while to be caught in the storm to be treated so well by strangers.”

And Dexie, from the folds of her blanket, turned her large dark eyes on the women who were kneeling beside them rubbing their feet, and said in a low voice: 

“We could not expect our best friends to treat us more kindly.  Everything seemed prepared for our comfort before you ever saw us.  I’m sure I can’t think of one more thing that could be done for us.”

“But there is one more thing to be done, my dears,” and Mrs. Taylor smiled kindly into their young faces.  “We must put you to bed.”

“Oh, dear!  I feel too comfortable to move,” and Dexie leaned back in her big chair with a sigh of content.

“Well, it is a pity to disturb you, but to bed you must go,” and, much to Dixie’s surprise, a pair of strong arms lifted her as if she were a child, and a moment later she found herself in the next room, where a comfortable bed received her.

“How do you like being a baby again, Elsie?” she laughingly asked, as Elsie was placed beside her.

“I think I rather like it, but we have made trouble enough for these good women without letting them carry us to bed.  How is it that you can be so good to strangers?” and Elsie lifted her eyes to the motherly face.