WINTEE-q UABTEBS. 
249 
The idea of connecting the two huts was given up, as 
liable to let in too much cold through the cracks and 
joints. As the buildings were only a rod apart, the 
passageway was really not needed. Matches were getting 
scarce, and a fire was kept constantly alight on the 
hearth. 
To understand how these two huts could be erected in 
so short a time, it must be remembered that five full- 
grown men, three strong, healthy boys (besides Nat, whose 
nimble fingers were of great assistance), and two remark- 
ably capable women, worked during every available hour 
of daylight, Sundays excepted, for five weeks before the 
unfurnished, bare walls were completed. Something in 
the way of tables and benches had to be provided yet. 
These Solomon proposed to make on stormy days. 
A good deal of anxiety was felt about Peeschee, who 
was now two weeks overdue. 
On the morning of the tenth of October, the first of the 
Buttons who opened the door noticed something like a 
white, downy feather float in and disappear. Then an- 
other, and another. Before ten o'clock a furious snow- 
storm was raging. Flossie was worse that morning, as 
we learned at the opening of this chapter; but toward 
afternoon she grew brighter, and took a great interest in 
the reports of the progress of the storm. She was not 
told of the anxiety felt by all concerning Peeschee, nor 
regarding their own future. 
Deeper and deeper fell the snow. The day seemed 
