the sort of beast to have," exclaimed Uncle Beamish,
spluttering as the snow blew in his mouth. "He is gettin' his spirits
up just when they are most wanted. We must have passed Crocker's a
good while ago, and it can't be long before we get to the pike. And
it's time we was there, for it's darkenin'."

On and on we went, but still we did not reach the pike. We had lost a
great deal of time during the first part of the journey, and although
the horse was travelling so much better now, his pace was below the
average of good roadsters.

"When we get to the pike," said Uncle Beamish, "you can't miss it, for
this road doesn't cross it. All you've got to do is to turn to the
left, and in ten minutes you will see the lights in my sister's house.
And I'll tell you, doctor, if you would like to stop there for the
night, she'd be mighty glad to have you."

"Much obliged," replied I, "but I shall go on. It's not late yet, and
I can reach the Collingwoods' in good time."

We now drove on in silence, our horse actually arching his neck as he
thumped through the snow. Drifts had begun to form across the road,
but through these he bravely plunged.

"Stayin' power is what we want, doctor!" exclaimed Uncle Beamish.
"Where would your fast trotter be in drifts like these, I'd like to
know? We got the right horse when we got this one, but I wish we had
been goin' this fast all the time."

It grew darker and darker, but at last we saw, not far in front of us,
a light.

"That beats me," said Uncle Beamish. "I don't remember no other house
so near the road. It can't be we ain't passed Crocker's yit! If we
ain't got no further than that, I'm in favor of stoppin'. I'm not
afraid of a snow-storm, but I ain't a fool nuther, and if we haven't
got further than Crocker's it will be foolhardy to try to push on
through the dark and these big drifts, which will be gettin' bigger."

I did not give it up so easily. I greatly wished to` reach my
destination that night. But there were three wills in the party, and
one of them belonged to the horse. Before I had any idea of such a
thing, the animal made a sudden turn,--too sudden for safety,--passed
through a wide gateway, and after a few rapid bounds which, to my
surprise, I could not restrain, he stopped suddenly.

"Hello!" exclaimed Uncle Beamish, peering forward, "here's a barn
door." And he immediately began to throw off the far robe that covered
our knees.

"What are you