uld become of this
beautiful but delicate fabric if that mighty lake were to burst its
confines and surge in one vast wall in this direction! Has not the
immortal Scott truly said:

"Against the wrath of nature how vain
the works of man?

"My dear Baker, you certainly are too sensible a man to be blind to the
security which is held out to you in this supreme moment of peril by
the Bonny Thistle Marine of Inverness."

I admit that I knew not what to say. I had never before suspected any
of these dangers which, according to my friends, now seemed imminent.
On the one hand our cherished new house was threatened by fire; on the
other hand that same dear edifice seemed to be doomed to a watery
grave. Under these conflicting threatenings what was an inexperienced
man to do? Heaven be praised, my presence of mind did not desert me.
I referred Mr. Macleod to Alice, as I had referred the others. It was
her house, and she would have to be responsible for it against the
devouring elements.

That night I dreamed that the awful suggestions of Messrs. Teddy,
Jeems, Doller, and Macleod had been realized. I dreamed that the new
house was confronted upon one side by a wall of flame, and upon the
other by a wall of water. Destruction and death seemed imminent. I
dreamed that, trusting rather the mercy of the waves than the ferocity
of the flames, I leaped into the billows and struggled like a Titan
with them. I awoke, screaming with affright.

XVI

NEIGHBOR ROBBINS' PLATYPUS

I wish you knew Burr Robbins. It is quite likely, however, that you
_do_ know him, for he has been conspicuously before the public for a
number of years. Mr. Robbins lives just across the way from the old
Schmittheimer place, and he has surrounded himself with comforts and
luxuries of a most extraordinary character. He is a retired circus
proprietor, and he has taken with him into retirement many of the most
startling features of the menagerie which used to figure as one of the
most delectable component parts of the "absolutely greatest
agglomeration of marvels exhibiting under one canvas."

In his front yard Mr. Robbins pastures two trained buffalo, a sacred
cow, a gnu (or horned horse), two musk deer, a giraffe, a woolly horse,
a five-legged calf and a moose. In the back yard there are two white
bear cubs, a baby elephant, a nest of pythons, half a dozen ostriches,
a learned pig, several alligators and crocodiles, and a gi