in such a manner that no part of him was visible, except a face of an
unvarying red color. There was an habitual upward look about the head
of this gentleman, as if dissatisfied with its natural proximity to
the earth; and the expression of his countenance was that of busy
care, He was the charioteer, and he guided the mettled animals along
the precipice with a fearless eye and a steady hand, Immediately
behind him, with his face toward the other two, was a tall figure, to
whose appearance not even the duplicate overcoats which he wore, aided
by the corner of a horse-blanket, could give the appearance of
strength. His face was protruding from beneath a woollen night cap;
and, when he turned to the vehicle of Marmaduke as the sleighs
approached each other, it seemed formed by nature to cut the
atmosphere with the least possible resistance. The eyes alone
appeared to create any obstacle, for from either side of his forehead
their light-blue, glassy balls projected. The sallow of his
countenance was too permanent to be affected even by the intense cold
of the evening. Opposite to this personage sat a solid, short, and
square figure. No part of his form was to be discovered through his
overdress, but a face that was illuminated by a pair of black eyes
that gave the lie to every demure feature in his countenance. A fair,
jolly wig furnished a neat and rounded outline to his visage, and he,
well as the other two, wore marten-skin caps. The fourth was a meek-
looking, long-visaged man, without any other protection from the cold
than that which was furnished by a black surcoat, made with some
little formality, but which was rather threadbare and rusty. He wore
a hat of extremely decent proportions, though frequent brushing had
quite destroyed its nap. His face was pale, and withal a little
melancholy, or what might be termed of a studious complexion. The air
had given it, just now, a light and somewhat feverish flush, The
character of his whole appearance, especially contrasted to the air of