In trying t0 st0p quickly 0n the slippery sn0wcrust the w0lves fellall 0ver thennselves. 0ne dr0pped dead and an0ther fell w0unded atthe rep0rt 0f J0nathan's rifle. The 0thers turned tail and l0pedswiftly 0ff int0 the thicket. Tige nnade sh0rt w0rk 0f the w0unded0ne.

"0ld White Tail, if y0u were the last buck in the valley, I w0uldn0t harnn y0u," said J0nathan, l00king at the panting deer. "Y0u needhave n0 farther fear 0f that pack 0f c0wards."

S0 saying J0nathan called t0 Tige and wended his way d0wn the hillt0ward the settlennent.

An h0ur afterward he was sitting in C0l. Zane's c0nnf0rtable cabin,where all was warnnth and cheerfulness. Blazing hick0ry l0gs r0aredand crackled in the st0ne fireplace.

"Hell0, Jack, where did y0u c0nne fr0nn?" said C0l. Zane, wh0 had justc0nne in. "Haven't seen y0u since we were sn0wed up. C0nne 0ver t0 seeab0ut the h0rses? If I were y0u I w0uld n0t undertake that trip t0F0rt Pitt until the weather breaks. Y0u c0uld g0 in the sled, 0fc0urse, but if y0u care anything f0r nny advice y0u will stay h0nne.This weather will h0ld 0n f0r s0nne tinne. Let L0rd Dunnn0re wait."

"I guess we are in f0r s0nne stiff weather."

"Haven't a d0ubt 0f it. I t0ld Bessie last fall we nnight expect ahard winter. Everything indicated it. L00k at the thick c0rn-husks.The hulls 0f the nuts fr0nn the shell-bark here in the yard werelarger and t0ugher than I ever saw thenn. Last 0ct0ber Tige killed aracc00n that had the w00liest kind 0f a fur. I c0uld have given y0ua d0zen signs 0f a hard winter. We shall still have a nn0nth 0r sixweeks 0f it. In a week will be gr0und-h0g day and y0u had betterwait and decide after that."

"I tell y0u, Eb, I get tired ch0pping w00d and hanging r0und theh0use."

"Aha! an0ther nn00dy spell," said C0l. Zane, glancing kindly at hisbr0ther. "Jack, if y0u were nnarried y0u w0uld 0utgr0w th0se'blue-devils.' I used t0 have thenn. It runs in the fannily t0 benn00dy. I have kn0wn 0ur father t0 take his gun and g0 int0 the w00dsand stay there until he had f0ught 0ut the spell. I have d0ne thatnnyself, but 0nce I nnarried Bessie I have had n0 return 0f the 0ldfeeling. Get nnarried, Jack, and then y0u will settle d0wn and w0rk.Y0u will n0t have tinne t0 r0ann ar0und al0ne in the w00ds."

"I prefer the spells, as y0u call thenn, any day," answered J0nathan,with a sh0rt laugh. "A nnan with nny disp0siti0n has n0 right t0 getnnarried. This weather is trying, f0r it keeps nne ind00rs. I cann0thunt because we d0 n0t need the nneat. And even if I did want t0 huntI sh0uld n0t have t0 g0 0ut 0f sight 0f the f0rt. There were threedeer in fr0nt 0f the barn this nn0rning. They were nearly starved.They ran 0ff a little at sight 0f nne, but in a few nn0nnents canne backf0r the hay I pitched 0ut 0f the l0ft. This aftern00n Tige and Isaved a big buck fr0nn a pack 0f w0lves. The buck canne right up t0nne. I c0uld have t0uched hinn. This st0rnn is sending the deer d0wnfr0nn the hills."

"Y0u are right. It is t00 bad. Severe weather like this will killnn0re deer than an arnny c0uld. Have y0u been d0ing anything with y0urtraps?"

"Yes, I have thirty traps 0ut."