And so on. The intent seems to be to personify the fearful cold that overtakes and benumbs the traveler in the great Canadian forests in winter. This stanza brings out the silence or desolation of the scene very effectively,—a scene without sound or motion:— “‘Save the wailing of the moose-bird With a plaintive note and low; And the skating of the red leaf Upon the frozen snow.’ “The rest of the poem runs thus:— “‘And said I, Though dark is falling, And far the camp must be, Yet my heart it would be lightsome If I had but company. “‘And then I sang and shouted, Keeping measure as I sped, To the harp-twang of the snow-shoe As it sprang beneath my tread. “‘Nor far into the valley Had I dipped upon my way, When a dusky figure joined me In a capuchin of gray, “‘Bending upon the snow-shoes With a long and limber stride; And I hailed the dusky stranger, As we traveled side by side. “‘But no token of communion Gave he by word or look, And the fear-chill fell upon me At the crossing of the brook. “‘For I saw by the sickly moonlight, As I followed, bending low, That the walking of the stranger Left no foot-marks on the snow. “‘Then the fear-chill gathered o’er me, Like a shroud around me cast, As I sank upon the snow-drift Where the shadow hunter passed. “‘And the otter-trappers found me, Before the break of day, With my dark hair blanched and whitened As the snow in which I lay. “‘But they spoke not as they raised me; For they knew that in the night I had seen the shadow hunter And had withered in his sight. “‘Sancta Maria speed us! The sun is fallen low: Before us lies the valley Of the Walker of the Snow!’” “Ah!” exclaimed my companion. “Let us pile on more of those dry birch-logs; I feel both the ‘fear-chill’ and the ‘cold-chill’ creeping over me. How far is it to the valley of the Neversink?” “About three or four hours’ march, the man said.” “I hope we have no haunted valleys to cross?”