2O2 Maxey 



diggin's, when I heard a kind o' little tip-tap at 

 yon door. Well, I did n't notice it much, 'cause this 

 has been a old tearer of a storm, and noises has 

 been pretty common fer so quiet a place ; then, 

 too, I was kind o' gone on the game. Bimeby I 

 heard it ag'in nothin' but tip -tap. Then I 

 thought 't was the old spruce outside knockin' its 

 branches to pieces on the cabin ; and so I went on 

 playin'. But the infernal thing kept tip-tappin', and 

 so at last I got up, kind o' mad like, and opened the 

 door, and thar stood that durned little animal, quiet 

 as a lamb, with you on his back. Well, I just invited 

 him right in, and he come, you bet ; but I believe 

 he 'd stood there all night, tip-tappin' nothin' more 

 if I hadn't opened the door.' 



A smile of intense satisfaction passed over Her- 

 bert's face, even in hrs weakened condition. Then 

 he fell asleep again. 



For four days the storm lasted, making it impos- 

 sible to think of seeking the trail for weeks to come. 

 Herbert's frostbitten extremities gave him a great 

 deal of annoyance ; but as the injuries were not 

 serious, he cheerfully endured the suffering. 



