'll be to the rescue in no time."

The two boys were soon out on the lonely mountain road, and then they
headed for the old house. Boldly mounting the main piazza, they knocked
sharply on the door.

At first there was no response, and the lads were just congratulating
themselves on the fact that the premises were deserted when they heard
shuffling footsteps. Then came the tremulous voice of an elderly woman
speaking in broken English.

"Who ist der? Vat you vants?"

"We are a couple of boys out hunting," answered Jack. "We would like to
know if we can buy something to eat."

"I haf nodings for you. You besser go somevhere else."

"Can't we come in and get warm?" asked Gif.

"_Nein._ You go avay."

"Who lives here?" questioned Jack loudly, for the woman had made no
attempt to open the door.

"Dis ist Mister Bauermann's house."

"Is he in? I'd like very much to speak to him. I am sure he would let us
have something to eat," went on Jack in the smoothest tone he could
command.

"Do you know Mister Bauermann?" questioned the woman cautiously.

"Isn't he the gentleman who has been riding around here in his sleigh
with two or three other men?" asked Gif. "If he is," he continued, "we
have met him near my father's place."

"I think you might at least let us have a little to eat. We're willing
to pay well for it," broke in Jack. "Just a little bread and butter, and
maybe a cup of hot coffee or tea if you have it."

"I can't open de door for you," said the woman firmly. "Mister Bauermann
he gifs orders not to let anypody in de house. You haf to go avay unt
get somedings to eat somevhere else."

"When do you expect Mr. Bauermann back?" asked Gif.

"Dot I can't say. Maybe he was come back by dinner time, unt maybe not
bis night."

"All right then, we'll go. But I think you are rather mean not to sell
us something to eat," said Jack.

To this the woman did not make any reply, but they heard her fumbling at
the door, evidently making certain that the lock and bolt were secure.

As there seemed nothing else to do, the two cadets retired, and, feeling
that the woman must be watching them from behind the tightly drawn
curtains at the windows, walked on down the rough road until a bend hid
the house from view. Then they came up through the woods again and
rejoined those at the barn.

"Well, we found out one thing, anyway," declared Jack. "There is a woman
keeping guard in the house, and the menfolks are all awa