The Tragedy of the Flying Squirrels 



But at last one day, after many weary 

 weeks, a breath of spring was wafted 

 from the Gulf, and the frost's relent- 

 less grip relaxed. The melting ice 

 began its long journey to the distant 

 sea, and we went out to make our cus- 

 tomary preliminary survey of the prem- 

 ises to see how everything had endured 

 the strain put upon vacant property 

 by the rigors of a winter of almost 

 unparalleled severity. 



The cottage is carefully boarded up 

 each autumn, and upon our arrival this 

 particular day in March we found 

 everything apparently just as we had 

 left it. Inside all was cold and dark. 

 There had been no heat in the place of 

 course for more than three months, 

 and the storm-doors and windows kept 

 out every ray of light; so we perforce 

 inspected the place with the aid of 

 candles. In accordance with our usual 

 practice, the large rug in the living- 

 room had been rolled up and shunted 

 to one side. We had found in previ- 

 [109] 



