In every direction around them, as far as the eye could reach, the
snow-covered country was utterly devoid of town, village, or hamlet; not
a sign of life was anywhere to be seen.
"A sorry prospect for our fine plan," said the pedant, after a searching
examination of their surroundings, "and I very much fear that
the plentiful store of provisions Herode promised us will not be
forthcoming. I cannot see the smoke of a single chimney, strain my eyes
as I will, nor the weather-cock on any village spire."
"Have a little patience, Blazius!" the tyrant replied. "Where people
live too much crowded together the air becomes vitiated, you know, and
it is very salubrious to have the villages situated a good distance
apart."
"What a healthy part of the country this must be then the inhabitants
need not to fear epidemics--for to begin with there are no inhabitants.
At this rate our Captain Fracasse will not have a chance very soon to
make his debut."
By this time it was nearly dark, the sky was overcast with heavy leaden
clouds, and only a faint lurid glow on the horizon in the west showed
where the sun had gone down. An icy wind, blowing full in their faces,
and the hard, frozen surface of the snow, made their progress both
difficult and painful.
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