ength to do this, and a gust of wind and a small
avalanche of snow roared in, and sent the lighter articles flying from
the table. Elsie gave a little scream, and Mrs. Snow exclaimed, "For the
land's sake, shut that door this minute! Everything 'll be soppin' wet."

The Captain pulled the door shut again, and dropped the hook into the
staple.

"Nice night for a pull, ain't it?" he observed, smiling. "No, sir, I've
heard it comin' on, and I made up my mind you'd have to stay on dry land
for a spell, no matter if all creation wanted you on t'other side."

Ralph looked troubled. "I ought to be at the station," he said.

"Maybe so, but you ain't, and you'll have to put up at this boardin'
house till mornin'. When it's daylight one of us 'll set you across. Mr.
Langley ain't foolish. He won't expect you to-night."

"Now, Mr. Hazeltine," said the housekeeper, "you might jest as well give
it up fust as last. You KNOW you can't go over to that station jest as
well as I do."

So Ralph did give it up, although rather against his will. There was
nothing of importance to be done, but he felt a little like a deserter,
nevertheless.

"Perez won't git home neither," observed Captain Eri. "He's snowed in,
too."

Captain Perez had that afternoon gone down to the Mayo homestead to take
tea with Miss Davis.

"Git home! I should think not!" said Mrs. Snow decidedly. "Pashy's got
too much sense to let him try it."

"Well, Elsie," commented Captain Jerry, "I told you we'd have a
no'theaster 'fore the winter was over. I guess there'll be gale enough
to satisfy you, now. No school to-morrer."

"Well, that's settled! Let's be comf'table. Ain't there some of that
cider down cellar? Where's the pitcher?" And Captain Eri hurried off to
find it.

When bedtime came there was some argument as to where the guest should
sleep. Ralph insisted that the haircloth sofa in the parlor was just the
thing, but Captain Eri wouldn't hear of it.

"Haircloth's all right to look at," he said, "but it's the slipperiest
stuff that ever was, I cal'late. Every time I set on a haircloth chair I
feel's if I was draggin' anchor."

The cot was declared ineligible, also, and the question was finally
settled by Josiah and Captain Eri going upstairs to the room once
occupied by John Baxter, while Ralph took that which they vacated.

It was some time before he fell asleep. The gale seemed to be tearing
loose the eternal foundations. The house shook and the b