white and
wide. A wagon rattled down the distant road. From their chairs they
looked at the window, and the effect of the light in the cabin was a
presentation of an intensely black and solemn night. The old woman
adopted the attitude used always in church at funerals. At times she
seemed to be upon the point of breaking out in prayer.

"He mighty quiet ter-night," whispered Williams. "Was he good
ter-day?" For answer his wife raised her eyes to the ceiling in the
supplication of Job. Williams moved restlessly. Finally he tiptoed to
the door. He knelt slowly and without a sound, and placed his ear near
the key-hole. Hearing a noise behind him, he turned quickly. His wife
was staring at him aghast. She stood in front of the stove, and her
arms were spread out in the natural movement to protect all her
sleeping ducklings.

But Williams arose without having touched the door. "I raikon he
er-sleep," he said, fingering his wool. He debated with himself for
some time. During this interval his wife remained, a great fat statue
of a mother shielding her children.

It was plain that his mind was swept suddenly by a wave of temerity.
With a sounding step he moved towards the door. His fingers were
almost upon the knob when he swiftly ducked and dodged away, clapping
his hands to the back of his head. It was as if the portal had
threatened him. There was a little tumult near the stove, where
Mrs. Williams's desperate retreat had involved her feet with the
prostrate children.

After the panic Williams bore traces of a feeling of shame. He
returned to the charge. He firmly grasped the knob with his left hand,
and with his other hand turned the key in the lock. He pushed the
door, and as it swung portentously open he sprang nimbly to one side
like the fearful slave liberating the lion. Near the stove a group had
formed, the terror stricken mother, with her arms stretched, and the
aroused children clinging frenziedly to her skirts.

The light streamed after the swinging door, and disclosed a room six
feet one way and six feet the other way. It was small enough to enable
the radiance to lay it plain. Williams peered warily around the corner
made by the door-post.

Suddenly he advanced, retired, and advanced again with a howl. His
palsied family had expected him to spring backward, and at his howl
they heaped themselves wondrously. But Williams simply stood in the
little room emitting his howls before an open window. "He's gone!