e clock and saw it was already half-past ten,
and then stealing softly to the bedside where Fanny lay quietly sleeping,
she bent down and assured herself that her sister really was unconscious
of her movements. She then hastily threw on her overshoes, cloak and hood
and stealing noiselessly down the stairs, was soon in the open air alone
in the darkness of the night. Just as she shut the door of the house, the
watch dog, Tiger, came bounding furiously toward her with an angry growl.
She silenced the fierce animal by saying, "Down, Tiger--poor Tige--don't you
know me?" After quieting the dog, she proceeded on her strange errand,
which was to obtain her books from the schoolhouse, which was more than
half a mile distant.

The mud, which was very deep, was not more than half frozen, and at each
step she sank into a mixture of mud, snow and ice. Still she kept
fearlessly on, till at last she found herself in the midst of the thick
woods. Here her courage somewhat failed her, for she called to mind all
the stories she had ever heard of runaways, who were said to walk abroad
at this dark hour of the night. Once she thought she saw the giant form of
a negro standing in her path, but it proved to be a black stump, and she
was about laughing at her fears, when her ear detected the sound of a
light, rapid tread coming toward her. Almost paralyzed with terror, she
stood perfectly still and listened for the sound to be repeated, but all
was silent, and again she went on her way, and soon reached the school
house.

But here a new difficulty presented itself. The house was locked and the
key was in Mr. Wilmot's pocket; but the old adage, "where there's a will,
there's a way," came into her mind, so she felt around on the half frozen
ground till she found a long rail, which she placed against a window; then
climbing up, she raised the sash, and in a moment was in the schoolroom.
The atmosphere of the room was still comfortable and she stopped for a
moment at the stove to warm her benumbed fingers, then groping her way to
her desk, she easily found her books and made her way out of the house in
the same manner that she had entered.

Just as she reached the ground a large, dark object sprang toward her and
two glittering eyes looked up into her face. She uttered a loud shriek and
was answered by a low whine, which she instantly recognized as belonging
to Tiger. "Why, Tiger," she exclaimed, "how you frightened me! What did
you follow m