STRAMONIUM 



It grew gray and chilly toward sunset. The 

 wind was blowing from the east, and presently it 

 began to rain that kind of fine slanting rain that 

 Gabe called &quot; carpet tacks,&quot; and that is specially 

 cheerless and makes you think it much colder 

 than it really is. Where we were, neither of us 

 knew. All the perspectives that had fed us with 

 pictures were rapidly obliterated by a leaden mist, 

 and as the prospect closed heavily in about us, we 

 instinctively came closer together. I think the 

 Doctor s effort to enjoy it was a little obvious and 

 some\vhat marred by his absurd determination to 

 keep the half pound of butter some distance from 

 his person. 



&quot; It will hardly add to our store of pleasant 

 memories to plod all night in this,&quot; I ventured to 

 remark, as I slapped the drip off my soft hat. 

 &quot; There is a lively prospect of our being soaked 

 to the bone.&quot; 



11 If we do not run upon a house,&quot; he said, &quot; we 

 shall have to crawl into some cave or covert. You 

 have read of such experiences, I suppose, when 

 you were a boy.&quot; 



&quot; Very delightful to read about,&quot; I suggested. 



&quot; I dare say we can find a shelter of some kind. 

 The animals do. That s the fun of it. To have 

 brought a waterproof house and modern conveni 

 ences along would have been aesthetic poltroonery.&quot; 



&quot; It looks to me as if it had set in for a week.&quot; 



&quot; Very likely. It usually does about this time 

 of year. Haven t you ever noticed the propriety 

 and regularity of the seasons ? They go on with 



