eady described, except that the low tunnel-shaped entrance was
very long--about twelve feet. Light was admitted by a parchment-covered
hole or window, with several rents in it, as well as by various
accidental holes in the roof.

When the lamp was lighted, and skins were spread on the breck, and Leo,
having finished the partition, was busy making entries in a note-book,
and Anders was amusing himself with a tobacco pipe--foolish man! and
Oblooria was devoting herself to the lamp, from which various charming
sounds and delicious smells emanated--as well as smoke--this northern
residence looked far more cheerful and snug than the luxurious dwellers
in civilised lands will readily believe.

"I wonder," said Leo, looking up from his book after a prolonged
silence, "I wonder what strange sounds are those I hear."

"P'r'aps it's de vint," said Anders, puffing a cloud from his lips in
sleepy contentment, and glancing upwards.

When he and Leo looked at the roof of the hut it shook slightly, as if
something had fallen on it.

"Strange," muttered Leo, reverting to his notebook, "it did not look
like wind when the sun went down. It must be going to blow hard."

After a few minutes of silence Leo again looked up inquiringly.

"Dere's anoder squall," said Anders.

"More like a sneeze than a squall. Listen; that is a queer pattering
sound."

They listened, but all was silent. After a minute or so they resumed
their occupations.

The sounds were, however, no mystery to those who were in the secret of
them. Knowing the extreme curiosity of his countrymen, Grabantak had
placed a sentinel over his guests' hut, with orders to let no one go
near it. The sentinel entered on his vigil with that stern sense of
duty-unto-death that is supposed to animate all sentinels. At first the
inhabitants of Flatland kept conscientiously away from the forbidden
spot, but as the shades of night toned down the light, some of them
could not resist drawing near occasionally and listening with distended
eyes, ears, and nostrils, as if they expected to drink in foreign sounds
at all these orifices. The sentinel grasped his spear, steeled his
heart, and stood in front of the door with a look of grand solemnity
worthy of the horse-guards.

At last, however, the sentinel's own curiosity was roused by the eager
looks of those--chiefly big boys--who drew ever nearer and nearer.
Occasional sounds from the hut quickened his curiosity, and the str