always depend on Giraffe to
coax the wood to do its best in dispelling the cold atmosphere; and soon
they were no longer shivering, but fully dressed, and assisted in
getting breakfast.

Thad cast his eye upward several times during the progress of the meal.

"You seem to be anxious about something Mr. Scout Master?" remarked Step
Hen, who had been highly favored that morning, being chosen to accompany
the leader on a hunt for fresh meat; and Step Hen was therefore more
interested than the others in what seemed to have aroused the attention
of Thad.

"I was wondering whether we mightn't get our first snow-storm before
another sundown, that's all," replied the other, with a smile.

"Now, however could you tell that, when everything looks bright, and
oh-be-joyful to me up yonder?" burst out the wondering Bumpus.

"Well, there are some things one can know, partly by instinct, and find
it pretty hard to explain," Thad went on to say. "I seem to feel a
something in the air that says 'snow' as plain as words. It may be just
a sort of dampness; but that's the way about it. Then I notice the
direction of the wind, which is northwest; and the cut of those few
cirrus clouds lying low near the horizon. I can't exactly explain so
that you could understand, but if I was asked my opinion, I'd say we'll
see the snow flakes flying before many hours."

"How about that?" demanded Step Hen, turning on Eli and Jim.

"He's right, 'cause thar's agoin' ter be summat o' a fall. P'raps
'twon't amount ter much, nobody kin tell that; but it sez snow, all
right," the first guide observed, after taking a look all around.

"Me tew," was all Jim said; but he accompanied the words with a vigorous
nod in the affirmative, that stood for a lot.

"That settles it," Step Hen declared. "I'm going out prepared for
business. Never did like to be snowed under, any way you take it."

"Too bad we ain't got a snow shovel along," remarked Giraffe,
sarcastically.

"Oh! you can joke all you want to," snapped back the other; "you're so
lofty you needn't mind an ordinary snowfall. If it got up to your chin,
you could still manage to stretch that rubber neck of yours around, and
feel comfortable. But I ain't in the same class, you see, with my
ordinary figure, and short neck. But all I meant to say was, that I'd
keep my sweater on under my coat, and stick my woolen gloves in my
pockets."

"Loan you my earmuffs if you say the word, Step Hen," spoke up Bum