It is no wonder John almost lost his senses clinging there, for the sled shot down through the icy air with the rapidity of a railway train. In what seemed to John ages, though it was only a few minutes, the speed slackened; finally the sled stopped, and John raised his head to look about. They were in the midst of a forest of fir trees whose branches dipped to the ground, burdened with snow. The sun was shining brightly, and Father Hofer was looking at John in a kindly manner.

They dragged the sled after them a little way and then flew down another steep gully, but not so long nor so steep as the first one. Again the sled came to a standstill, but this time only wide, white slopes lay about them. They were quite below the black fir forest, and now they slid easily enough down over the steep open meadows to the very bottom of the valley.