e, I made up a bed on the snow with my
buffalo robes, and slept soundly and comfortably all night. When I woke
in the morning I was still enveloped in the robes, but found to my
surprise that I was lying upon the ground. I looked around, but there
was no sign of snow anywhere. I arose and looked about for my horse and
buggy, but they were not in sight. Then I remembered that I had tied my
horse to the weather vane. Casting my eyes upward I saw my horse and
buggy hanging by the strap, the horse having secured a footing on the
side of the spire. Happily I had a revolver with me, and with one shot I
severed the broad leathern strap. Naturally the horse and buggy fell to
the ground. I put my buffalo robes back into the buggy, rode to the
court house, had my papers recorded, and then drove back ten miles to
town, none the worse for my adventure, but the stableman charged me
fifty cents for the strap that I was obliged to leave on the church
spire."

A number of low whistles, intermixed with several "whews!" were heard,
as Quincy finished his story.

"Wall, by thunder!" ejaculated Stiles, "how do yer account for--"

"I think it must have been a sudden thaw," remarked Quincy, with a grave
face.

"One thing puzzles me," said the Professor.

"What is that?" asked Quincy politely, "perhaps I can explain."

"Before you left the church," asked the Professor, "why didn't you reach
up and ontie that strap?"

Another loud shout of laughter broke from the company, and Quincy,
realizing that the Professor had beaten him fairly by putting a point on
his own story, joined heartily in the laugh at his own expense.

"That reminds me," said Abner Stiles, "of an adventure that I had
several years ago, down in Maine, when I wuz younger and spryer'n I am
now."

"How old be you?" said the Professor.

"Wall," replied Abner, "the family Bible makes me out to be fifty-eight,
but jedgin' from the fun I've had I'm as old as Methooserlar."

This remark gave Stiles the preliminary laugh, which he always counted
upon when he told a story.

"Did yer ever meet a b'ar?" asked he, directing his remark to Quincy.

"Yes," said Quincy, "I've stood up before one many a time."

"Well, really," exclaimed Abner, "how'd yer come off?"

"Usually with considerable less money than when I went up," replied
Quincy, seeing that Abner was mystified.

"What?" said Abner. "I mean a real black b'ar, one of those big, shaggy
fellers sech as you meet in the