of it into that corner. Through the pane Ruth saw a squirming mass of
scaly bodies, mixed up with an old quilt. More than one tail, with
rows of "buttons" and rattles on it, was elevated, and one angry
serpent "sprung his rattle" sharply.

"Hush, hush, my dears!" said the hermit, soothingly. "Go to sleep
again now. My children," he said, nodding at Ruth. "Pretty dears!"

To tell the truth, the girl from the Red Mill wanted to scream; but
she held herself down, clenching her hands, and saying nothing. The
kettle began to sing and she was glad to go back to the chair by the
fire and afterward to sip the tin cup of hot tea that their host gave
her, and eat with gocd appetite a square of the crisp cornbread.

Meanwhile, the hermit took from the walls three pairs of great,
awkward-looking snowshoes and tightened the lacings and fitted thongs
to them. The pair he selected for Ruth looked to the girl to be so
big that she never could take a step in them; but he seemed to expect
her to try.

They went out of the cabin as the moon was rising. It came up as red
and fiery as the sun had gone down. Long shadows of the tall trees
were flung across the snow. The hermit commanded Rose, the setter, to
guard the hut, while he allowed the hound to follow at heel. He
carried his rifle, and Ruth was glad of this.

"Haven't heard a cat-o'-mountain around here this winter," he said,
as they started up the hill. "Didn't hear nor see one at all last
winter. Neighbors will have to get up a hunt for this one that
troubled you, Young Miss, 'fore it does more damage."