Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/225

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  • plete. Evergreen boughs were piled up

around the more exposed parts and as the roof seemed tight, they congratulated themselves on having found this haven. Next, they brought in wood and started a fire.

"We want a powerful sight, my boy. A 'norther' means business. When we do get things here we get 'em hard," said Watson.

Nearly all the afternoon they worked with a will, bringing in fuel and whatever fodder for the horses they could find.

Fiercer and fiercer the wind blew and the sleet dashed against their shelter as if determined to gain access. Great trees were torn up by the roots and the crashing was fearful. Sounds of distress from herds of cattle huddled together in the woods came to their ears. Cattle seem to scent these storms, and try to reach a place of safety; but the weakly ones frequently perish on the plains.

Jack found an empty kettle, an immense black one, in one corner of the shed. It was cracked entirely around the bottom and a blow from a billet of wood knocked the