“Oh, Heaven! we’ll never be seen any more!” cried Joe, between his chattering teeth.

“Come on, Joe!  I’ll take care of you,” said Glenn, encouragingly, as his man hesitated in doubt when midway on the ice.

“The holy saints preserve me!” said Joe, gliding over, quaking with fear, and clinging to Glenn’s hand.

They walked up a gentle ascent from the water’s edge, whence Glenn expected to see nothing more than a surface of snow, and the dense growth of young timber incident to such a place.  But what was his surprise, on beholding, in the midst of the island, and obscured from view to the surrounding country by an almost impenetrable grove of young willows, a round chimney-top rising over a high circular granite wall!  Nothing daunted, he continued his steps directly towards the mysterious dwelling, notwithstanding the protestations and prayers of Joe.  When they drew near, a thin slightly coloured vapor could be distinguished ascending from the chimney, indicating that the tenement was certainly inhabited.  When they reached the wall, they pursued their way round it until they found a small iron gate.

“Rap there, Joe,” said Glenn.  Joe only turned his head, and looked at him in silence.

“Knock,” continued Glenn.

“Oh!” exclaimed Joe, falling on his knees.  “If ever you were prevailed on not to do any thing you were doing, let me this one time persuade you to leave this place.”

“Knock!” repeated Glenn, emphatically.  Joe struck the gate several blows with his knuckles, but so gently that he could not hear them himself.  Glenn seemed to grow angry, and seizing his man’s musket, was in the act of applying the end of it violently, when the gate flew open at one spring, and a hoary porter stood bowing and beckoning before him.

“Do not enter!” cried Joe, throwing his arms around Glenn.

“It is too late, now—­you have knocked, and it is opened unto you—­your mission must be accomplished before you turn back.  Mine is not yet effected—­I am the one who dared to face the magic swan—­and like me, all who come hither must remain until it shall be the pleasure of the fire-wizard to release them,” said the old attendant.

“Lead me to this fire-wizard!” said Glenn, firmly, stepping into the inclosure.  When they entered, the gate closed after them without any apparent agency of the old hunter, and with such force that Joe sprang several feet forward.

“Oh, goodness! we are nothing but poor rats in the trap, now!” exclaimed he.

“I pledged myself for your safety, and will keep my word,” said Glenn.

“But what will the wizard care about your veracity?” asked Joe.