useless. But the horse, now thoroughly excited by the hanging reins, the
bells, and the sense of its own power, went only faster and faster, and
finally disappeared at full speed.

Riatt came slowly back; he was sinking in the snow to his waist at every
step. Christine was watching him with some anxiety.

"Is there a telephone in the house?" he asked.

She shook her head.

"No, it's disconnected when we leave in the autumn."

There was a moment's silence, then she said questioningly: "What
shall we do?"

"There's only one thing we can do," he returned; "go into the house and
light a fire."

But Christine hesitated.

"I don't think it will be wise to waste time doing that," she said, "if
you have to go back on foot to the Usshers'--"

"Go back on foot!" Riatt interrupted. "My dear Miss Fenimer, that
is quite impossible. It must be every inch of ten miles, it's
dark, a blizzard is blowing, I don't know the way, and we haven't
passed a house."

"But, but," said she, "suppose they don't rescue us to-night?"