ood weather I
ought to be able to get through if no more snow came; though I had no
idea how far I might have to go, since for all I knew Lac-qui-Parle
might also be abandoned; and, even if it were not, I knew that it had
no trains and that I would probably have to travel overland to the
other side of the Minnesota line before I could reach a settlement
with any connection with the outside world. I was before long very
gloomy thinking about my troubles; then I happened to remember the
horses and cow about which I had tried to quarrel with poor Tom Carr,
and I put on my overcoat and went out to look after them.

I thought the wind would carry me away, and I had to shovel ten
minutes by the light of a lantern half blown out before I could get
the door open. But when I did get in I found them glad to see me; and
I was glad to see them. And while shoveling away the snow I had
shoveled away my fit of the blues; and from that day to this I've
taken notice that the best way to get rid of trouble and feelings you
don't want is to go to work lively; which is a first-class thing to
remember, and I throw it in here for good measure.

The cow mooed at me, and even the horses whinnied a little, though
they were not what you might call children's pets, being broncos, and
more apt to take a kick at you than to try to throw you a kiss. The
chickens had gone to roost and didn't have much to say. They refused
to come down for their supper, but the horses and the cow were very
glad to get theirs. Then I milked the cow, told them all good-night,
made everything about the barn as snug as I could, and shouldered my
way through the storm to the house. I found both Kaiser and Pawsy wide
awake and waiting for me. I don't think they liked the house being so
deserted and lonesome. I gave them both some of the warm milk, and
took a share of it myself.

I was beginning to realize that I was tired by this time, and sat
down in a big chair before the fire. The stove was a round, cast-iron
one, shaped a good deal like a decanter. It burned soft coal, and, as
it was going well, and was warm enough in the room, I threw the door
open, making it seem very like a fireplace. I was over the excitement
of the day, and fell to looking at the situation again. This is the
way I made it out, to wit:

First, that I was alone, except for the animals, and in charge of a
whole town; that it was very improbable (as the blizzard still held)
that any train would or