sound of the wind whistling in the chimney.

"Wait here," he whispered presently, and then disappeared
through the door, closing it after him. I held my watch down
to the firelight and saw it was near eleven o'clock. I felt
drowsy, and had almost fallen asleep, when my uncle
returned, carrying a lantern. "Rayel is asleep," said he, in
a whisper. "Won't you come with me?--it will not take long."

"Certainly," said I, rising, and waiting for him to lead the
way. He put on his antique hat and threw a shawl over his
shoulders.

"It's a chilly night," said he. "You'd better wear another
coat."

I drew on my overcoat at once, wondering what new experience
awaited me. Holding the lantern in front of him, he
proceeded slowly and feebly across the rear courtyard, and
unlocked a door in one of the side wings of the house,
through which we passed into a large unfurnished room.

"I always wait till he's asleep," said my uncle, shuffling
across the room and unlocking another door on its opposite
side. "He's never been here--never yet," he continued,
pulling the door open. The dim light of the lantern shone
out upon a thicket of fragrant spruce and cedar. As I
stepped down upon the ground, following in the steps of my
uncle, I could hear the murmur of the great pines towering
far above our heads. Slowly we made our way through the