ome in such a tempest."

"But dis house am haunted."

"Oh, nonsense, Pete. Get the wood, and don't let such foolish notions as
ghosts enter your mind."

Pete reluctantly obeyed, and Charles went into the house where was an
old lamp which had been left there by hunters. It was nearly full of
oil, and he lighted it by aid of his flint and steel.

Some rude benches and three-legged stools constituted the furniture.
Pete, finding that nothing could induce his master to go on, gathered a
quantity of dry wood before the rain began to fall, and started a fire.

The single lamp, burning dimly on the mantel, gave a weird ghost-like
gleam, and Pete shuddered as he glanced into the dark corners and the
black attic above, from whence his fervid imagination conjured up lost
spirits, ghosts and goblins ready to seize him by the hair.

Just as the first great rain-drops began to fall on the old
weather-beaten roof of the deserted house, they heard the rapid tramp of
feet without. Pete uttered a horrified yell and sprang into the chimney,
where he was trying to start a fire. Charles told him to refrain from
his silly conduct and went to the door to see who their visitors were.

"Charles, Charles, is it you?" cried a voice which he recognized as John
Louder. "We saw the light within and determined to seek shelter."

Louder was accompanied by his neighbors Bly and Gray, all carrying guns
and some small game in their hands.

"You have been in the forest to-day?"

"Yes, with ill luck, too. Marry! I trow, neighbors, we will have a
tempest," cried Louder, as he and his companions entered the old house.
A burst of thunder shook the earth; the wild winds raged about the
house, making the rickety old structure creak and groan, while the air
about seemed on fire. For a moment all were awed to silence; then
Charles said:

"It will soon pass. The rain will soon drown it."

"Have you but just come?" asked Louder.

"Just arrived."

"I would not, under other circumstances, put up in such a place as this;
but it is better than the storm raging without."

The hunters, thankful for even such poor shelter, skinned some
squirrels, and toasted them before the glowing fire, which Pete had
built. Supper over, they drew the benches close about the fire, and
while they listened to the raging storm without, conversed on the
mysteries of that invisible world, which has always formed an
interesting theme for the children of Adam.

"Charles Ste