雪深埋在小山和山谷，在岩石的峡谷和长满草的山谷，涓涓细流，翻滚的小瀑布被冻结在岩石的墙壁之间，灰色和棕色的寂静地俯视着基安德拉笼罩的小镇。杜鹃花也死了，在它狭窄的床上冻得严严的，远处的声音在近处响起，晶莹的空气冻得如此清澈，人们在雪地上无声地来来往往。新查姆矿区的井架，像一个巨大的绞架架，顶着严寒，在那里，强壮的矿工们寻找着隐藏的金子，那无常的命运女神，僵直着，脸色发青，半冻着，在求爱。远处，沿着积雪覆盖的山脉，传来一种奇怪的回声，在积雪覆盖的树枝上，在闪烁的冰柱上，响起了欢快的副歌，丹麦人卡尔向平原疾驰而下。他那又长又轻便的雪鞋随着他悠扬的歌声疾驰而过;时而缓慢地绕着山转，时而飞快地往下跑;晶体在冰冻的地壳上撞击、燃烧、闪烁。在山间，他在所有穿好雪鞋的人中间闪耀着第一束光，因为尽管山间的小伙子们都很敏捷，但有一个勇敢的对手敢于与他竞争，毫无畏惧地转向和驾驭，与这位四肢强壮的登山者相抗衡。是戴维·埃克莱斯顿敢于发起挑战:如果卡尔在乎鞋子来试试他们的步调，那就让他参加比赛吧，谁都有可能参加比赛——一个准冠军。卡尔说:“好了。” But not alone in point of speed They sought to gain an equal meed, For in the narrow lists of love, Dave Eccleston had cast the glove: Though both had prayed, the blushing maid As yet no preference betrayed. But played them off, as women will, One 'gainst the other one, until A day when she was sorely pressed To loving neither youth confessed, But did exclaim - the wily dame, "Who wins this race, I'll bear his name!" These words were running through Carl's head As o'er the frozen crust he sped, But suddenly became aware That not alone he travelled there, He sudden spied, with swinging stride, A stranger speeding by his side; The breezes o'er each shoulder toss?d His beard, bediamonded with frost, His eyes flashed strangely, bushy browed. His breath hung round him like a shroud. He never spoke, nor silence broke, But by the Dane sped stroke for stroke. "Old man! I neither know your name, Nor what you are, nor whence you came: But this, if I but had your shoes This championship I ne'er could lose. To call them mine, those shoes divine, I'll gladly pay should you incline. The stranger merely bowed his head - "The shoes are yours," he gruffly said; "I change with you, though at a loss, And in return I ask that cross Which, while she sung, your mother hung Around your neck when you were young." Carl hesitated when he heard The price, but not for long demurred, And gave the cross; the shoes were laced Upon his feet in trembling haste, So long and light, smooth polished, bright. His heart beat gladly at the sight. Now, on the morning of the race, Expectancy on every face, They come the programme to fulfil Upon the slope of Township Hill; With silent feet the people meet, While youths and maidens laughing greet. High-piled the flashing snowdrifts lie, And laugh to scorn the sun's dull eye. That, glistening feebly, seems to say - "When Summer comes you'll melt away: You'll change your song when I grow strong, I think so, though I may be wrong." The pistol flashed, and off they went Like lightning on the steep descent, Resistlessly down-swooping, swift O'er the smooth face of polished drift The racers strain with might and main. But in the lead flies Carl the Dane. Behind him Davy did his best, With hopeless eye and lip compressed: Beat by a snow-shoe length at most, They flash and pass the winning-post. The maiden said, "I'll gladly wed The youth who in this race has led." But where was he? still speeding fast, Over the frozen stream he pass?d, They watched his flying form until They lost it over Sawyer's Hill, Nor saw it more, the people swore The like they'd never seen before. The way he scaled that steep ascent Was quite against all precedent, While others said he could but choose To do it on those demon shoes; They talked in vain, for Carl the Dane Was never seen in flesh again. But now the lonely diggers say That sometimes at the close of day They see a misty