“I am sure you are kind and good, dear lady, both you and the gentleman, and I will gladly tell you all,” was the reply, after a moment’s hesitation; and in a few rapid sentences she explained that she and Alma, her younger sister, had been left orphaned and destitute in Norway, their native land, and after a hard struggle of several months had fallen in with a Mormon missionary, who gave them glowing accounts of Utah, telling them it was the paradise of the poor; that if they would go with him and become members of the Mormon Church, land would be given them, their poverty and hard toil would become a thing of the past, and they would live in blissful enjoyment among the Latter-day Saints, where rich and poor were treated alike—­as neighbors and friends.

She said that at first they could scarce endure the thought of leaving their dear, native land; but so bright was the picture drawn by the Mormon, that at length they decided to go with him.

They gathered up their few possessions, bade a tearful farewell to old neighbors and friends, and set sail for America in company with between two and three hundred other Mormon converts.

Their expectation was to travel all the way to Salt Lake City in the company; but, as they neared the end of the voyage, Alma fell ill, and when they landed was so entirely unfit for travel that they were compelled to remain behind for several weeks, and at an expense that so rapidly diminished their small store of money that when, at last, they set out on their long journey across the country, they were almost literally penniless.

They had, however, the through-ticket to Utah—­which the Mormon missionary had made them buy before leaving them, and knowing no choice, and believing all his wily misrepresentations, they rejoiced in its possession as the passport to an earthly paradise.

“But we have lost our way,” concluded Christine, with a look of distress, “and how are we to find it? how make sure of not again straying from the right path?  Kind sir, can you, will you, give us some advice?  Could I in any way earn the money to pay for our travel on this road?  I know how to work, and I am strong and willing.”

Edward mused a moment, then said, “We will consider that question presently; but let us first have a little more talk.

“Ah, what can be the matter?” he exclaimed in English, starting up to glance from the window; for the train had come to a sudden standstill in a bit of woods where there seemed no occasion for stopping.  “What is wrong?” he asked of a man hurrying by toward the engine.

“A wreck ahead, sir,” was the reply.

Every man in the car had risen from his seat, and was hastening to alight and view the scene of the disaster.

“Oh, Ned, is there any danger?” asked Zoe.

“No, dear, I think not.  You won’t mind if I leave you for a moment to learn how long we are likely to be detained here?”