p
there. The stable and the corn crib will hold many more, but, as for me,
I think I'll sleep against one of these lean-tos the mountaineers are
throwing up. With that behind me, a big fire before me, two heavy
blankets around me, and dead leaves under me, I ought to fare well.
It will at least have better air than those sod houses in which some of
the best families of Nebraska live, Frank Pennington."

"Never mind about the sod houses," rejoined Pennington, cheerfully.
"They're mighty good places in a blizzard. But I think I'll stay outside
too, if Colonel Winchester will let us."

The colonel soon disposed his force. The younger officers were to sleep
before a fire as they wished, although about half way between midnight
and morning they were to join the watch, which he intended to be strong
and vigilant. Meanwhile they ate supper and their spirits were so high
that they almost made a festival of it. The aroma of the ham and bacon,
broiled in the winter open, would have made a jaded epicure hungry.
They had sardines and oysters, in tins, and plenty of coffee, with army
biscuits which were not hard to them. Some of them wanted to sing,
but the colonel would not allow it in the cove, although they could
chatter as much as they pleased around the fires.

"We don't need to sing," said Dick. "The wind is doing it for us.
Just listen to it, will you?"

All the mountain winds were blowing that night, coming from every
direction, and then circling swiftly in vast whirlwinds, while the ridges
and peaks and gorges made them sing their songs in many keys. Now it
was a shriek, then a whistle, and then a deep full tone like an organ.
Blended, it had a majestic effect which was not lost on the young
soldiers.

"I've heard it in the Green Mountains," said Warner, "but not under such
conditions as we have here. I'm glad I have so much company. I think it
would give me the creeps to be in the cove alone, with that storm howling
over my head."

"Not to mention Slade and Skelly hunting through the snowdrifts for you,"
said Pennington. "They'd take a good long look for you, George, knowing
what a tremendous fellow you are, and then Dick and I would be compelled
to take the trouble and danger of rescuing you."

"I hold you to that," said Warner. "You do hereby promise and solemnly
pledge yourselves in case of my capture by Slade, Skelly or anybody else,
to come at once through any hardship and danger to my rescue."