A JOURNEY TO NATURE 



result. To Charlie it was a supreme consumma 

 tion. He had never before seen so much snow, 

 and he had an impatient desire to get out into it. 

 It made its presence felt in our cosey room in 

 a manner wholly indescribable. We knew that 

 the snow was lying deep over the whole country 

 before we satisfied ourselves of it with our eyes. 

 The sound of our voices had a muted quality. 

 There was about us a new hush that suggested 

 enswathement, and the atmosphere was full of 

 nitrogen. 



Such a situation recalled into service the Rob 

 inson Crusoe instincts. We were suddenly cut 

 off absolutely from our kind. I had no means 

 of knowing how deep the drifts were on the roads, 

 but it was certain that travel must be blocked 

 temporarily. Doubtless a rescue party would 

 start out in time and try to get through to us 

 from the farm-house. Charlie had a confident 

 belief that we would hear Griselle approaching 

 with the sound of sleigh-bells. Meanwhile we 

 must wait and count up our resources. Fortu 

 nately our woodpile was handy and ample ; our 

 barrel of kerosene not half used ; our shelves of 

 canned goods still full, and there were several 

 bags of Boneless bacon hanging from the kitchen 

 beams. &quot; We shall not have to eat the yellow 

 dog, I said with forced hilarity to Charlie. &quot; But 

 we must open a path or two from our doors. 

 What was that ? Something cracked.&quot; 



&quot; I heard that several times,&quot; said Charlie. &quot; I 

 guess it s the roof.&quot; 



298 



