itchers (for it was frozen hard),
and arrayed themselves to descend and meet the family at the nine
o'clock breakfast. When this repast was at an end, the question arose
how they were to entertain their guest, and various plans were proposed.
But to all Ralph's propositions his mother interposed the objection that
it was too cold.

"Mother is right," said Mr. Hoyer; "it is so cold that 'the chips jump
on the hill-side.' You'll have to be content with indoor sports to-day."

"But, father, it is not more than twenty degrees below zero," the boy
demurred. "I am sure we can stand that, if we keep in motion. I have
been out at thirty without losing either ears or nose."

He went to the window to observe the thermometer; but the dim daylight
scarcely penetrated the fantastic frost-crystals, which, like a splendid
exotic flora, covered the panes. Only at the upper corner, where the ice
had commenced to thaw, a few timid sunbeams were peeping in, making the
lamp upon the table seem pale and sickly. Whenever the door to the hall
was opened a white cloud of vapor rolled in; and every one made haste
to shut the door, in order to save the precious heat. The boys, being
doomed to remain indoors, walked about restlessly, felt each other's
muscle, punched each other, and sometimes, for want of better
employment, teased the little girls. Mr. Hoyer, seeing how miserable
they were, finally took pity on them, and, after having thawed out
a window-pane sufficiently to see the thermometer outside, gave his
consent to a little expedition on skees [2] down to the river.

And now, boys, you ought to have seen them! Now there was life in them!
You would scarcely have dreamed that they were the same creatures who,
a moment ago, looked so listless and miserable. What rollicking laughter
and fun, while they bundled one another in scarfs, cardigan-jackets,
fur-lined top-boots, and overcoats!

"You had better take your guns along, boys," said the father, as they
stormed out through the front door; "you might strike a couple of
ptarmigan, or a mountain-cock, over on the west side."

"I am going to take your rifle, if you'll let me," Ralph exclaimed. "I
have a fancy we might strike bigger game than mountain-cock. I shouldn't
object to a wolf or two."

"You are welcome to the rifle," said his father; "but I doubt whether
you'll find wolves on the ice so early in the day."

Mr. Hoyer took the rifle from its case, examined it carefully, and
hand